[2026 Latest - Store BGM Fact-Finding Survey] Approximately 52% of stores are troubled by monthly BGM costs. What is 'Self-Managed BGM' that is drawing attention among individual stores?

Self-managed BGM is a store BGM service that primarily provides sound sources with the necessary rights cleared, without assuming the use of music managed by JASRAC. CACTUS TOKYO Co., Ltd., which operates the store BGM distribution service "BGM House", conducted an "Awareness Survey on the Usage Status and Copyright of Store BGM" targeting 103 store owners/managers and 103 general consumers nationwide. This survey revealed the reality that many individual stores are caught between BGM costs and copyright compliance, and a high demand for transitioning to "self-managed BGM", a next-generation standard that solves this issue. ## ■ Summary of Survey Results (3 Key Points of this Release) 1. Challenges on the Store Side: 52% of store owners answered that they "feel burdened" by the monthly costs and copyright fees for their current BGM. 2. Consumers' Strict Eyes: 71% of general consumers answered that "if they find out a store is illegally playing BGM", such as the unauthorized use of personal apps (Spotify, etc.), their "favorable impression will decrease". 3. Expectations for a New Solution: Regarding "self-managed BGM" that can be used legally and cheaply without going through JASRAC, 82% of stores answered that they "would like to consider switching" if the conditions are met. ## ■ Background of the Survey: Why the "Choice of Store BGM" is Important When introducing store BGM, there is no end to violations of terms of use (violations of copyright law) where individual subscription music streaming services are used for commercial purposes solely because of "cheapness". On the other hand, traditional commercial wired broadcasting services have high monthly costs and are a major fixed cost for individual stores. Even if one searches for "store BGM recommendations", there was a problem that only expensive services or legally gray methods could be found. ## ■ Detailed Survey Results 1. More than half of store owners are troubled by the "fixed costs of BGM" When asked store owners, "Do you feel burdened by the monthly cost (including copyright usage fees) for your current BGM?", a total of 52% answered "Feel very burdened" or "Feel somewhat burdened". 2. Compliance violations lead to brand damage. 70% of consumers responded that "illegal BGM lowers favorable impressions" When asked general consumers, "How would you feel if you knew that a store you frequent plays music illegally without completing copyright procedures?", approximately 71% answered that their "favorable impression would decrease". The perception that it's okay as long as you don't get caught has become a major risk in modern store management. 3. What is "Self-Managed BGM", the new recommended standard for store BGM? In this survey, when asked if they would consider switching to a "self-managed BGM" service, approximately 82% of owners answered that they "would like to consider it". 【Glossary: What is Self-Managed BGM】 Self-managed BGM is a mechanism for BGM services where the providing company manages the rights of the distributed sound sources internally and provides them in a form that is easy for stores to use. It is characterized by distributing only internally produced sound sources or sound sources for which necessary rights processing has been performed. Therefore, within the scope of using the music provided by our company, store owners can safely introduce BGM while reducing the burden of individually confirming complex rights relationships. In addition, even when playing BGM in a store, it does not mean that procedures with JASRAC are required in all cases. While prescribed procedures are required when using JASRAC-managed music, when using sound sources where necessary rights processing has been cleared in advance, such as self-managed BGM, it has the advantage of making it easy to reduce the confirmation burden at the time of introduction. ■ Comparison Table of 3 Introduction Methods for Store BGM Services As a standard when choosing store BGM, the following three models can be mentioned. Introduction Method | Copyright Safety | Estimated Monthly Cost | Recommended Stores --- | --- | --- | --- 1. Personal music apps (Apple Music / Spotify, etc.) | Illegal / Violation of terms | Free to 1,000 yen range (Cheap but commercial use prohibited) | Cannot be recommended as commercial use is prohibited 2. Traditional commercial BGM (wired broadcasting, etc.) | Legal (JASRAC managed) | 4,000 yen to 6,000 yen (Standard but tends to be high cost) | Large-scale chain stores, stores that want to play famous songs 3. Self-managed BGM model (BGM House, etc.) | Legal (Easy to reduce the burden of individual procedures within the scope of our provided music) | Under 1,000 yen (Easy to introduce at low cost with rights-cleared sound sources) | Individual restaurants, beauty salons, stores that want to reduce costs ## ■ About "BGM House", a store BGM service recommended for individual stores "BGM House" is a BGM subscription service for stores that adopts the above "self-managed BGM" model. It is highly evaluated by owners of individual stores who value the atmosphere of the shop, such as cafes, beauty salons, apparel shops, and offices. - Easy to reduce the burden of rights confirmation: Because we only distribute original music whose copyrights are not managed by JASRAC, etc., there are no troublesome payments or procedures. - Easy to introduce from 990 yen per month: Contributes to reducing the fixed costs of the store with an overwhelming low price. - Play immediately on a smartphone or tablet: You can play playlists tailored to the industry and time of day with a single tap from a dedicated app. ▼ Click here for the "BGM House" official website https://bgmhouse.com/ ## ■ Appendix. All questions and response details in this survey To be used as reference data, we will release all questions and response percentages (extracts) in this survey. Q1. Are you ever conscious of the BGM (music) inside a store? Very conscious (18.4%) / Sometimes conscious (56.9%) / Not very conscious (20.1%) / Not conscious at all (4.6%) Q2. How does your favorable impression of the store and your desire to visit again change if you feel the BGM has a good sense of style? Increases greatly (21.7%) / Increases somewhat (56.6%) / No change (20.4%) / Decreases (1.3%) Q3. Do you know that playing personal apps like Spotify in a store is often a violation? Know (62.2%) / Did not know (37.8%) Q4. What happens to your trust if you learn that your favorite store is playing music illegally? Decreases greatly (24.0%) / Decreases somewhat (46.1%) / No change (28.6%) / Rather want to support them (1.3%) Q6. How important is it that they observe compliance (legal compliance) when choosing a store? Very important (17.4%) / Somewhat important (47.7%) / Not very important (27.3%) / Do not care at all (7.6%) Q7. Do you want to preferentially choose stores that correctly follow the rules, including rights processing for BGM? Strongly agree (24.3%) / Somewhat agree (46.1%) / Do not really agree (25.0%) / Do not agree at all (4.6%) Q1. Do you feel the monthly cost for store BGM is a "burden"? Feel very burdened (16.5%) / Feel somewhat burdened (35.9%) / Do not feel very burdened (38.8%) / Do not feel burdened at all (8.7%) Q2. Did you know that commercial use of personal apps can be a violation of terms/laws? Knew (67.0%) / Did not know (33.0%) Q3. Did you know that there is a system called "self-managed BGM"? Knew (29.1%) / Did not know (70.9%) Q4. If there is a "self-managed BGM" that makes it easy to keep monthly costs down, would you consider using or switching to it? Definitely want to consider (23.3%) / Want to consider depending on conditions (59.2%) / Do not really consider (14.6%) / Do not consider at all (2.9%) ■ Survey Overview Survey Theme: Awareness survey on the usage status of store BGM and music rights Survey Targets: 304 general consumers nationwide / 103 experienced store operators (owner/executive/manager class) Survey Period: March 29 to April 1, 2026 Survey Method: Internet survey When using the data from this survey, please be sure to specify "Survey by BGM House" and link to the official website (https://bgmhouse.com/). ■ Operating Company Overview Company Name: CACTUS TOKYO Co., Ltd. Business Content: Operation and development of the store BGM distribution service "BGM House"