The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism refutes claims of requiring prior approval for music royalty contracts. Learn how the government is working with music platforms and rights holders to improve fairness.
In response to recent media reports, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister Yoo In-chon) firmly denied claims that it intends to require prior government approval for contracts between music streaming platforms and copyright trust management organizations.
“There is no truth to the report suggesting that the Ministry will demand pre-approval of contractual content between music platforms and trust management bodies,” the Ministry said on June 19.
Some news outlets had earlier reported that the Ministry was pushing for mandatory prior approval of music royalty distribution rates. The Ministry responded swiftly, stating:
“We have never advocated such measures, nor does the proposed amendment allow the government to interfere in how royalties are distributed between copyright holders and platforms.”
Instead, the Ministry emphasized its commitment to fairness and transparency in the music industry. In April 2024, it launched a collaborative consultative body to tackle growing concerns over inconsistent royalty standards between domestic and international music service providers.
Over the course of a year, this group held five formal meetings and gathered opinions through several informal sessions. The effort culminated in May 2025, when the final mediation plan was shared with stakeholders.
Who Was Involved?
Rights Holders:
- Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA)
- Korea Music Performers’ Federation
- Korea Recording Industry Association
- Korea Music Content Association
Music Platforms (Users):
- Melon (Kakao), Genie Music, Bugs (NHN), Vibe (Naver·YG Plus)
- Flo (Dreamus), YouTube Music (Google Korea), Apple Music (Apple Korea)
This joint effort highlights the Ministry’s balanced approach bringing together rights holders and platforms to build a fairer music ecosystem without unnecessary government interference.
