Welcome to JACAP - The Jamaica Association of Composers Authors and Publishers

JACAP is a member-owned, not-for-profit organization made up of music creators (composers and authors) and publishers. These are the Primary Rights holders.
All Licensing fees collected by JACAP (less administrative costs) are distributed as royalties to these rights holders and JACAP's affiliates around the world.
The Authors & Composers are the Primary Rights holders in any musical work. ONLY JACAP represents the interest of these PRIMARY RIGHTS holders in Jamaica.
JACAP Membership has increased from 44 in 1999 to 3,152 members as at April 2013.
JACAP’s Members are covered throughout the WORLD and that the royalties received from overseas affiliates on their behalf, are paid in the currency received.
If you use music for any commercial or entertainment event, you need a JACAP Licence. Owners and operators of event centres using any form of music, whether live or recorded, need a JACAP license?
JACAP takes all reasonable steps to ensure compliance.
Failure to obtain a licence for the use of music in public, or in any commercial environment, may result in legal action for copyright infringement and can result in injunctions, fines or imprisonment.
The payment of performance fees is different from music copyright licence fees.
When a performer is paid to perform at an event, such payment is for his service as a performing artiste, not for the public performance of the musical works.
Whether or not the works were written by the performer licence fees are separate from performers’ fees.
The administration of the Primary Rights is a separate activity from the service offered by the performer.
The purchase of an original CD or download of music from a legal site, gives you possession of a copy of the work, which, you may play for your personal enjoyment and that of your family and friends.
Usage of the CD and/or Download to play music in a place open to the public or in a commercial environment, you now require a JACAP licence which allows the public use of music.
JACAP has a Tariff Structure and it takes into account copyright licensing depending on the nature and extent to which music is used, and/or how many people are exposed to it.
JACAP's auditors are KPMG, and that they are ranked amongst the big four (4) firms in the world?
JACAP IS a full member of The International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) founded in 1926 and presently consists of societies from 121 countries.
JACAP is also a founding member of the Association of Caribbean Copyright Societies (ACCS)
JACAP administrates the Public Performance, Mechanical (Reproduction) and Synchronization Rights on behalf of Authors, Composers & Publishers of music.
If you do not have a JACAP licence your event is not fully licensed to use music legally in JAMAICA.