HS Code 49.04 – Music, printed or in manuscript, whether or not bound or illustrated

HS code 4904 is a 4-digit heading in the Harmonized System that covers: Music, printed or in manuscript, whether or not bound or illustrated. HS Code 4904 specifically covers "Music, printed or in manuscript, whether or not bound or illustrated," a crucial classification for the global trade of musical notation. This heading encompasses all forms of sheet music, musical scores, librettos (for operas or musicals), and tablatures for instruments like guitar, regardless of whether they are printed or handwritten, bound into books, or presented as individual sheets. The core characteristic is the presence of musical notation designed for performance or study. This classification distinctly separates actual musical scores from books *about* music (e.g., music theory texts, biographies of musicians), which would fall under HS 4901. It also excludes sound recordings (e.g., CDs, vinyl, digital files), which are classified under Chapter 85. Key sub-categories include full orchestral scores, individual instrumental or vocal parts, songbooks, educational method books for instruments, and choral arrangements. For trade compliance, accurate classification under 4904 is vital for determining correct duty rates, managing intellectual property rights (copyrights are a significant factor in music publishing), and ensuring proper trade statistics. Historically, physical sheet music has been fundamental to music education, performance, and composition, maintaining its relevance even in the digital age. This heading is a specialized segment within Chapter 49, which broadly covers "Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry," emphasizing the unique nature and specific content of musical publications.

Beethoven Symphony No. 9 full orchestral score, Bach Cello Suites sheet music, Jazz Standards lead sheets for piano, Guitar tablature books for rock songs, Vocal scores for 'The Phantom of the Opera', Choral arrangements for SATB choir, Piano lesson method books for beginners, Violin concerto parts, Opera librettos with musical notation, Hymn books with printed music, Folk song collections with chords, Drum notation exercise books, Contemporary pop songbooks, Renaissance lute tablatures, Baroque harpsichord scores, Film soundtrack sheet music, Broadway musical vocal selections, Hand-written musical compositions, Digital print-on-demand sheet music (physical copy), Study scores for conducting, Orchestral excerpts for auditions, Chamber music scores, Sacred music anthologies, Christmas carols sheet music, Educational sight-reading books.

A frequent misclassification occurs with books about music (HS 4901). If a book discusses music theory, history, or biographies of composers without containing actual musical notation for performance, it belongs to 4901, not 4904. The presence of playable music is the distinguishing factor. Another common error is confusing sheet music with general printed matter (HS 4911) if it's unbound or promotional; however, if it's identifiable as music for performance or study, 4904 is correct. Furthermore, digital music files or physical sound recordings (CDs, vinyl) are entirely different and fall under Chapter 85 (e.g., 8523), not this heading, which is strictly for printed or manuscript notation.

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 4904 in UN Comtrade data were the Netherlands ($28M, 34% of world exports), Germany ($19M) and the United Kingdom ($13M). World exports came to about $83M, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.

In 2025, the top importers of HS code 4904 in UN Comtrade data were Germany ($17M, 21% of world imports), France ($8.8M) and the United Kingdom ($8.8M). World imports came to about $78M, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.

HS code 4904 is a 4-digit heading under Chapter 49 of the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (49) identify the chapter, and digits 3-4 (04) specify the heading. This code contains multiple 6-digit subheadings for precise product classification.