Independent Music Coalition Japan (IMCJ)

The Independent Music Coalition Japan (“IMCJ”) was primarily founded by three independent music trade bodies: Independent Records and Musicians Association (IRMA), Independent Label Council Japan (ILCJ) and Japan Net Creators Association (JNCA). It will also be joined by a number of leading independent labels and aggregators. It is expected that IMCJ will represent the Japanese independent music community as a national trade association of the Worldwide Independent Network, or WIN, on behalf of the founding and cooperating associations including FMPJ (current WIN membership) under one umbrella. IMCJ’s mission and mandate include: initiating the collective voice of the independent community, enhancing the rights of independent labels and producers, networking with WIN and its member associations throughout the world, encouraging the development of the comprehensive database of independent repertoire, assisting to exploit and promote its members’ content together with Merlin (and its Tokyo office), facilitating professional and tech services when needed, and liaising and lobbying with the government, related trade bodies and MLCs, among others. IMCJ will also seek to initiate, encourage and support the formation of independent music associations in the East Asian region as business relations between Japan and those countries grow rapidly. IMCJ’s board of directors consists of the chief executives from the founding associations and leading labels.