Jose Mari Chan clarifies royalty remark referred only to physical music formats
Veteran singer-songwriter Jose Mari Chan issued a clarification over his recent remark that he is no longer receiving royalties for his songs, explaining that he was referring only to sales from physical music formats.
Chan previously said that he has not been receiving royalties from his songs as “nobody buys records, CDs anymore.”
“Unfortunately, since record sales are almost zero now, nobody buys records. Nobody buys CDs anymore. They download. And so, it’s hard to quantify those. So, I have not been receiving my checks from those recording companies,” he earlier said. “I feel frustrated, but more so, I feel frustrated for the young singer-songwriters in this country. What is the future that they can look forward to?”
The singer’s statement sparked buzz on social media, prompting him to set the record straight on the matter.
Speaking on behalf of Chan, Universal Records Managing Director Kathleen Dy-Go pointed out that his remark only meant to highlight the decline of physical album sales and the shift toward digital music consumption.
“We would like to clarify that Mr. Jose Mari Chan was referring specifically to royalties from CDs, cassettes, and vinyl records. As physical music formats have gradually declined over the years, so have the royalties associated with those sales,” Dy-Go clarified. “His statement should not be construed to mean that he no longer receives royalties from his music altogether.”
As Dy-Go underscored the evolution of the music industry, she noted that artists still earn royalties through digital streaming platforms, music publishing, synchronization licenses, public performances and other authorized uses of their recordings.
“Today, artists have various revenue streams beyond physical album sales, including streaming services, publishing rights, licensing, and other royalty collection mechanisms. Mr. Chan’s comments were simply referring to one specific source of royalties that has naturally diminished with changing consumer behavior,” she further stated.
Chan is best known for his timeless Christmas anthem “Christmas in Our Hearts” as well as ballad songs “Beautiful Girl” and “Can We Just Stop and Talk Awhile.”
Meanwhile, Chan is set to stage his concert “Afterglow: Seasons of the Heart” on July 11. Artists who will also be featured in the show include Kolette Madelo and “Tawag ng Tanghalan” champions Lyka Estrella, JM Dela Cerna and Marielle Montellano. /ra
