NexTone

NexTone Inc. operates as a pivotal copyright agent within Japan's music industry, positioning itself as a comprehensive support system for artists and rights holders. The company's genesis traces back to the establishment of e-License Inc. in September 2000, following the deregulation of Japan's copyright management sector. This move broke the long-standing monopoly held by the Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers (JASRAC). In February 2016, a significant milestone was achieved when e-License merged with Japan Rights Clearance Inc., another early entrant in the field, to form the current entity, NexTone Inc. This merger consolidated the strengths of both predecessors: e-License's focus on anime, game music, and internet-based creators, and Japan Rights Clearance's connections with rock and singer-songwriter artists. The company went public, listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers market in March 2020.

The business is structured around several core services. The primary operation is the Copyright Management business, where NexTone acts on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers to license musical works, and then collect and distribute the corresponding royalties. This service addresses various usage rights, including performance, recording, broadcasting, and digital distribution. Another major segment is the Digital Distribution business, which started in 2003. This division serves as an aggregator, supplying music and video content from rights holders to a wide array of domestic and international digital platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. Beyond these, NexTone provides Business Support services, which encompass artist casting, promotional coordination, and the development of proprietary systems for rights management and content distribution.

NexTone's revenue model is diversified across its business segments. In its copyright management role, it earns a commission on the royalties it collects. For digital distribution, the revenue is based on the total handling value of the content distributed. The company serves a broad client base that includes major record labels, independent artists, music publishers, and production companies in the anime and gaming sectors. A key differentiator is its commitment to transparency, providing detailed data to rights holders about how and where their works are used, which can be leveraged for marketing purposes. Under the leadership of CEO Masahiro Anan and COO Yuji Arakawa, NexTone aims to be an all-encompassing agent for artists, handling the business aspects of their careers so they can focus on creative activities.

Keywords: music copyright management, digital distribution, royalty collection, music licensing, Japanese music industry, JASRAC alternative, rights administration, digital content aggregation, artist support services, music publisher services, content promotion, casting agency, system development, Tokyo Stock Exchange, Masahiro Anan, Yuji Arakawa, e-License, Japan Rights Clearance, entertainment business solutions, music royalty distribution