Jamaica Association of Composers, Authors and Publishers

JACAP (Jamaica Association of Composers, Authors and Publishers) is a non-profit, member-owned copyright collecting society incorporated in 1998 in Kingston, Jamaica. It represents over 4,000 local composers, authors, and music publishers, administering their public performance, mechanical (reproduction), and synchronization rights under the Copyright Act of 1993 and the Jamaica Copyright Right (Amendment) Act 1999.

How JACAP Works

JACAP acquires performing and recording rights from its composer, author, and publisher members, as well as from overseas affiliate societies. It licenses businesses and event organizers that use music commercially, collects license fees, and distributes royalties to members and international affiliates after deducting administrative costs.

Licensees include radio stations, television networks, streaming platforms, restaurants, bars, retail stores, event venues, and any business that plays music publicly in Jamaica. A JACAP blanket license gives the licensee access to the entire JACAP catalog and the catalogs of its international affiliates.

JACAP is a full member of CISAC (the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers), which connects 228 societies across 111 countries. JACAP is also a founding member of the Association of Caribbean Copyright Societies (ACCS), which fosters regional cooperation on copyright management.

Membership is open to composers, authors, and publishers of musical works. JACAP membership has grown from 44 in 1999 to over 4,000 members today. The organization is governed by its members and operates as a company limited by guarantee without share capital under the Companies Act of Jamaica.

JACAP distributes royalties to members based on usage data collected from licensees. The organization has been active in advocating for amendments to Jamaica's Copyright Act to strengthen protections for music creators. JACAP hosts member forums and publishes news updates to keep members informed about royalty distributions, licensing changes, and industry developments.

Real-World Example

A Jamaican reggae songwriter registers 15 songs with JACAP. A Kingston radio station plays 8 of those songs in regular rotation, a hotel chain holds a JACAP blanket license for background music, and a promoter uses JACAP-licensed music at a dancehall event at the National Stadium.

JACAP collects license fees from all three sources. The songwriter receives a royalty distribution based on the radio airplay logs, the hotel's blanket license fee (allocated by usage), and the event's license fee. If the same songs are played on radio in the United Kingdom, JACAP's reciprocal agreement with PRS for Music means PRS collects those royalties and remits them to JACAP, which distributes them to the songwriter.

Jamaican music has global reach, with reggae and dancehall being among the most exported Caribbean genres. A songwriter with 15 songs receiving regular airplay on Jamaican radio and international streaming platforms might earn anywhere from JMD 50,000 to JMD 500,000 or more annually in JACAP royalties, depending on the scale of usage and their registered share of the works.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you are a Jamaican songwriter, composer, or publisher, JACAP is your primary domestic option for collecting performance royalties. There is no competing PRO in Jamaica. Without JACAP membership, you forfeit royalties from radio, television, streaming, live events, and businesses that play your music.

Register every composition with JACAP as soon as it is commercially released. Unregistered works earn zero royalties, even if they receive extensive airplay. Submit accurate metadata including ISRC codes, ISWC numbers, and split sheets to ensure proper royalty matching.

JACAP's CISAC membership means your music is represented internationally through reciprocal agreements with 228 societies across 111 countries. If your reggae or dancehall tracks are played in the UK, US, Canada, or Japan, those royalties flow back to you through JACAP. This is particularly valuable given the global popularity of Jamaican music.

JACAP also administers mechanical and synchronization rights, meaning you can collect royalties when your music is reproduced on physical media or used in films, advertisements, and television. The organization's advocacy for Copyright Act amendments aims to strengthen enforcement against unlicensed use, which remains a challenge in Jamaica's informal music economy.

Territory Covered

JACAP covers the territory of Jamaica. It licenses businesses, event organizers, radio stations, television networks, streaming platforms, restaurants, bars, retail stores, and any entity that uses music publicly within Jamaica. Through its CISAC membership and reciprocal agreements, JACAP also represents Jamaican creators internationally and collects royalties for foreign creators whose works are performed in Jamaica.

How to Join and Membership Fees

JACAP offers two membership categories:

Writers (composers and lyricists):

• One-time membership fee of J$2,500
• Must have 3 or more musical works that have been commercially recorded and released to the public
• Must submit music in MP3 format (max 20 MB) with metadata: track title, artist, composers/authors, ISRC number, label, and genre
• Must provide a valid photo ID, TRN (Tax Registration Number), and 2 passport-size photos
• If part of a group, all writers must join individually

Publishers:

• One-time application fee of J$12,750
• Must have a catalogue of at least 5 commercially published and/or commercially recorded works
• Must show Documents of Incorporation and letter of good standing
• Writers of the qualifying works must be members of JACAP or one of its affiliated societies
• Must provide copies of all assignments/contracts between the publisher and writers

Applications can be submitted online through JACAP's website or by mail with the physical application form. JACAP's membership has grown from 44 in 1999 to over 4,000 members today. The organization represents more than 3,000 music creators according to its "Why Join JACAP" page.

Overhead Rate

JACAP's administrative costs typically fall within the international range of 25% to 30% of collected revenue. JACAP confirmed this range in a public statement, noting that its administrative costs stayed within this range for 9 of its first 11 years of operation. In 2010, costs temporarily increased to 52% due to the purchase of a building for the society, but JACAP stated this was not a permanent situation.

After administrative costs are deducted, the remaining balance is distributed as royalties to members and international affiliates. In 2020, JACAP collected J$106,602,998 in royalties, of which 35% (J$37,385,556) was paid to local interests and 65% (J$69,217,442) was paid to overseas copyright holders.

Royalty Distribution Schedule

JACAP distributes royalties twice per year for local collections and three times per year for incoming international royalties. The minimum payout threshold is J$500. Members earning less than J$500 in a distribution cycle will have their earnings held until the cumulative amount reaches the distributable threshold.

Members can receive payments by cheque or direct bank deposit. Royalties received from overseas affiliates are paid in the currency received. JACAP provides detailed statements of royalties paid with each distribution.

Reciprocal Agreements

JACAP is a full member of CISAC, connecting it to 228 societies across 111 countries. This membership enables reciprocal agreements with major PROs worldwide, including PRS for Music (UK), ASCAP and BMI (US), SOCAN (Canada), GEMA (Germany), and many others.

JACAP is also a founding member of the Association of Caribbean Copyright Societies (ACCS), which promotes regional cooperation on copyright management among Caribbean CMOs. Other ACCS members include COSCAP (Barbados), COTT (Trinidad and Tobago), and ECCO (Eastern Caribbean). Through these agreements, Jamaican creators can collect royalties when their music is performed abroad, and foreign creators can collect royalties for uses in Jamaica.

Notable Members

JACAP represents over 4,000 Jamaican composers, authors, and publishers, including:

• Bob Andy (Keith Anderson, 1944-2020) (reggae songwriter, founding member of The Paragons, wrote "I've Got to Go Back Home," "Too Experienced," and "Fire Burning")
• Stephen Stewart (writer, listed on JACAP's board)
• Desmond Young (writer)
• Augustus Clarke (publisher)
• Steve Golding (writer, guitarist)
• Pamela Hall (writer)
• D'Angel (Michelle Downer, dancehall artist and songwriter)
• Lydia Rose (General Manager of JACAP since 2012, former Director of the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office)

Comparison Table

Videos

Similar PROs

• COTT - Trinidad and Tobago's copyright collection society, a Caribbean counterpart and fellow ACCS member
• COSCAP - Barbados' copyright society, another Caribbean PRO and ACCS member
• SOCAN - Canada's performing rights organization, a CISAC member with a large Jamaican diaspora repertoire
• PRS for Music - The UK's performing rights society, a major reciprocal agreement partner for Jamaican creators

Related Resources

• Performing Rights Organizations (PRO) - What a PRO is and how it functions
• Performance Royalties - How performance royalties are generated and collected
• Mechanical Royalties - How mechanical royalties differ from performance royalties
• Blanket License - The licensing model used by JACAP and other PROs
• Collective Management Organization (CMO) - How CMOs operate globally
• JACAP Official Website - Visit JACAP for membership and licensing information
• Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to estimate your digital earnings