Our rates have not changed or increased. In the past, did you receive an invoice for your music use from Sabam as well as the Fair Remuneration? Then you will only receive one invoice via Unisono from now on. This invoice covers both the royalties for authors (Sabam) and the Fair Remuneration for artists and music producers.
In addition to the royalties for authors, do you also have to pay the Fair Remuneration, or vice versa? Then you do not have to do anything. This will automatically be added to your Unisono invoice.
How can we help you?
Unisono
No, thanks to Unisono you no longer need two licences and you no longer have to pay two different invoices for the music in your business. From 1 January 2020, you will only receive one invoice under the banner of Unisono. This invoice will include both the copyright royalties (which you previously paid to Sabam) and the Fair Remuneration (which you previously paid to Honebel or Outsourcing Partners). In order to keep things clear for you, both fees will still be specified separately on your single invoice.
We ask you to apply for your licence at least 5 days before the start of your event.
As far as the copyright royalties are concerned, this period is shorter than before. This is because we had to align a number of conditions of Sabam and the Fair Remuneration when Unisono was founded, in order to simplify things as much as possible for you.
Using audiovisual works
Film screening
To organise a film screening in Flanders and Brussels, you should first contact the association Bevrijdingsfilms.
If they represent the chosen film, they will calculate and invoice the copyright royalties for both the music and the images.
If the film is not represented by Bevrijdingsfilms, you must notify Unisono of the film screening at least 5 days before the screening via MyUnisono (FR version - NL version), our online registration module with which you can submit an application in just a few clicks. The copyrights for the music in the film are then taken care of. You can find the applied rate here (FR - NL).
It is also important that you contact the producer(s)/distributor of the film. These details can be found on the cover of the film, video, DVD,…
To organise a film screening in Wallonia, the same procedure applies. In this case however, you have to contact the association Libération Films.
You can use existing film material provided that you have the written permission of the owner of the footage (production house, film producer, TV station,…). You have to contact the owner yourself.
DJ licence
Do you only use original CDs, records or original downloads? Then you don't need a licence. But if you use copies, a DJ licence is required (for example, if you burn a compilation CD).
An original download is the first recording of this download on a computer or smartphone. Making a copy on another computer, external hard disk, smartphone, MP3 player, USB stick, CD-R, etc. is only allowed for private use.
You can easily do this via our website.
Once you have submitted your request, you will receive a confirmation email and an invoice with the fee for the remaining months of the year. Once we have received your payment, we will send you the DJ licence. The licence is valid until 31 December and will be renewed automatically afterwards.
In 2019, the annual fee for a DJ licence is € 234.40 including VAT.
If you apply for a DJ licence during the year, we will calculate the fee for the remaining months of the year. In December, you will automatically receive an invoice for the renewal of your DJ licence for one year.
Releasing a CD or DVD
If you want to release a sound carrier (CD, DVD, record, etc.), you must first provide us with an application for reproduction. You can easily do this via MyUnisono (FR version - NL version).
After we have processed your application, we will send the ‘permission to press’ both to you and to the presser. However, the permission only becomes final after payment of the invoice.
For a CD:
The collection amounts to 8% on the retail price (excluding VAT), with an absolute minimum of:
- € 0.2576 for a single (2 works / max. 10min.)
- € 0.3968 for a maxi single (4 works / max. 20min.)
- € 0.8312 for an album (18 works / max. 80min.)
For a vinyl record:
The collection amounts to 8% on the retail price of the record (excluding VAT), with an absolute minimum of:
- € 0.4048 for a 45 rpm + EP
- € 0.4144 for a 33 rpm LP
The rate is per copy and is increased by 6% VAT.
For your information:
Under ‘label’ you fill in the name of the music label. If you release the work yourself, you can choose any name you want. As far as Sabam is concerned, your label name has then been created and no further formalities need to be completed.
Under ‘catalogue number’ you enter the catalogue number of the release. A catalogue number is always ascending. If you self-release the work, please use an abbreviation of the label name and the numbers 01 for your first release.
Under ‘graphic reproduction’, please only tick ‘yes’ if you are using protected images on the cover of the work.
Be sure to take a look at our brochure for music on a sound carrier (FR - NL).
Organising an event
Yes, because a licence for multipurpose halls is only valid for the Fair Remuneration in the first place, not for the copyright royalties.
Moreover, there are 2 types of licences for multipurpose halls:
- A licence ‘with drinks’;
- A licence ‘with dance’.
Whether or not you need to apply for an extra licence for the Fair Remuneration depends on the type of licence of the hall and the type of event you are organising there.
For example: you are organising a banquet (without dance) in a hall of which the owner has a licence ‘with drinks’. In that case, you do not have to apply for a licence for your event as far as the Fair Remuneration is concerned. On the other hand, if you are organising a party at the same location, then you will have to apply for an additional licence with Unisono as far as the Fair Remuneration is concerned because the licence of the hall is not valid for events that offer dance facilities.
Via MyUnisono (FR - NL), you can check quickly and easily whether the hall of your event has a licence for the Fair Remuneration, depending on the type of event you are organising there.
Please note that for music use during an event, you always need to apply for a licence with Unisono covering the copyright royalties.
In most cases not because Sabam has already concluded a copyright licence with the main streaming platforms, including Facebook and YouTube. When you stream live via one of these platforms, you do not need to apply for a licence from us. The full list of platforms that are already licensed can be found here.
Please note that your initiative may not have a commercial purpose. If you ask a financial contribution from the viewers/listeners or if you pay a fee to the performing artists, then please apply for your licence at the usual streaming rates here.
Temporary exception: as long as the COVID-19 measures apply, you may also stream live via a platform that is not on the list and therefore does not have a licence from Sabam. However, you are still not allowed to have a commercial purpose. Until when this exception applies, depends on what the government decides in the coming weeks. Be sure to keep an eye on our website!
Reproducing a work of visual art
It is sometimes said that you can reproduce extracts of works (music, films, texts, etc.) without permission as long as these extracts are not too long. That's not true.
There is a right to quote, but this is subject to certain conditions (see Article XI.189 §1 of the Code of Economic Law):
- The quotation must be made in the context of criticism, polemics, reviews, education or scientific work.
- The quotation must be justified in the context of the objective you have in mind. The extract should therefore not be longer than necessary to clarify what is to be explained.
- The title of the work and the name of the author must be stated.
- The quotation must come from a work that has already been made public. Quoting a work that an author has not yet wished to make public amounts to a violation of his/her right to disclosure.
Please make sure that the permission covers both copyright and any neighbouring rights (rights of producers, performing artists and broadcasting organisations).
And keep in mind that the rightholders have an exclusive right and are therefore free to impose their conditions.
The reproduction right constitutes copyright royalties collected for the reproduction of an existing work on different types of media (e.g. paper media such as a book, brochure, flyer, etc., internet pages, television images, merchandising,…).
If you are looking for a publisher, please contact one of the following associations:
For Dutch speakers:
Vlaamse Uitgeversvereniging (VUV) - Te Boelaerlei 37 - 2140 Borgerhout - Tel. 03/287.66.92 http://www.boek.be/
For French speakers:
Association des Editeurs Belges (ADEB) - Boulevard Lambermont 140/1 - 1030 Brussels - Tel. 02/241.65.80 http://www.adeb.be/
Using music in a theatre play
Theatre & dance
If you use pre-existing music in your theatre play, the amount due depends on the number of minutes you play music. It is therefore important to provide us with a list of the songs along with their duration. You can find the rate here.
This rate only applies if the rightholders of the musical works that are used in the performance have given their prior consent for this use. Via this link you can consult our repertoire.
We ask you to report the receipts within eight days after a performance or after the last performance in a series of performances.
You can also do this at a later date if you ask us a substantiated question within eight days.
If you don't report your receipts on time, we will calculate the royalties due on the basis of a full venue.
Using music in a video
The synchronisation right is the right of the composer or publisher of a work to decide whether someone may use (a part of) his musical work in a different context than the original.
Examples of this are:
- in TV or cinema films with short, medium or long playing time and documentaries that can be viewed in the cinema or on TV
- commercial, promotional and/or advertising products, such as:
- gadgets
- tablets
- smartphones
- toys
- greeting cards
- merchandising
- audiovisual products
- multimedia product
- non-commercial productions
- advertisements
Here are the websites where you can find library music (also known as stock music or production music):
CTM Entertainment | Barastraat 175 1070 Anderlecht |
+32 2 560 21 15 |
info@ctmentertainment.be | ctmentertainment.be | |
G7 MUSIC SPRL Mr. Timothy Hagelstein |
313 Rue Trieu Kaisin 6061 Charleroi |
+32 71/53 51 10 |
info@g7music.be caracol-france@wanadoo.fr |
g7music.be | |
MUSIC & IMAGES Mevr. Annemie Hendrikx |
Eugène Plaskylaan 179 1030 Brussel |
(02)612.17.89 (0475)83.42.16 |
annemie@musicandimages.be | musicandimages.be universalproductionmusic.com emipm.com |
|
DE WOLFE MUSIC/Hebra Records/UpperMood Mme. Alice Dulac |
Rue du Château d’eau 6 1390 Grez-Doiceau |
(010)60.24.10 (0472) 39.24.89 |
alice@uppermood.be | dewolfemusic.com | |
SMI Production Music Dhr. Joël Cleuren |
Broosveldstraat 2A 3570 Alken |
(011)59.90.00 |
joel@smipm.com | smipm.com |
1. Existing music
Option 1: the work has been published.
Please contact the publisher(s). The contact details can be found in our online catalogue.
Option 2: the work has not been published.
Please contact us.
Existing recording
Follow option 1 or 2 and also contact the owner of the recording rights (i.e. the record company or the producer).
All rightholders may prohibit the use of their work. Are you allowed to use the work? Then they may determine the corresponding fee. There is no minimum or maximum fee.
2. Library music
Library music (also known as stock music or production music) consists of repertoire that has been composed and/or compiled to accompany audio(visual) productions.
Several publishers manage such a repertoire. They represent both the authors and the rightholders of the recordings.
Do you want to use library music? Please ask us for permission, because we manage the rights. It is not possible to obtain permission from one of the publishers.
You will find an overview of companies that sell library music on this page.
3. Original music
Do you have music composed for your production? Then you make a direct agreement with the composer. With this standard agreement, you can make clear arrangements.
Is the composer a member of Sabam or another authors' association? Then he will also register his work there.
4. Music from the public domain
Music from the public domain is free of copyright. This concerns works of which the surviving author or composer died more than seventy years ago.
Existing recording
Are you using an existing recording? If so, please contact the record company concerned first.
Using music in a business
You can request a duplicate via our contact form.
Please include your customer number together with a brief description of the subject of the invoice.
Liberal profession: do I have to pay copyright royalties and the Fair Remuneration when I play music in the waiting room of my practice?
You don’t have to pay the Fair Remuneration for playing music in your waiting room if you meet the following conditions:
- You practise a liberal profession*;
- The music can be heard through your intervention;
- There is a relatively fixed patient or client base;
- There are only a limited number of clients/patients present at the same time in the practice or waiting room;
- You do not intend to make a profit by playing music.
If you meet all of these conditions, you are exempt from paying the Fair Remuneration. You will however always have to pay copyright royalties for playing music in your waiting room.
If you sell goods, there is no exemption. This means pharmacists, opticians, etc. do have to pay the Fair Remuneration for playing music.
* Definition of a liberal profession: The practitioner of a liberal profession is any company that carries out a professional activity in an intellectually independent manner that mainly consists of intellectual services, has received the required training, and is subject to a disciplinary body established by law, including dentists and physiotherapists.
There is a difference between the use of music in a public space (e.g. a shop) and in staff rooms (e.g. offices).
When using music in a public space, as a company you need a Unisono licence for daily music use. This licence covers the copyright royalties (for authors, composers and publishers) and the Fair Remuneration (for performing artists and producers).
The licence is linked to a location and the calculation is based on the surface area of that location.
When using music in staff rooms (non-public space), you need a Unisono licence for music in companies. This licence too covers both the copyright royalties and the neighbouring rights royalties, but only for music use in offices, workshops and warehouses to which only your employees have access.
A licence for music in companies is linked to your company number. The calculation is based on the total number of FTEs (full-time equivalents) on the social balance sheet of the year before invoicing.
Do you have a licence for music use in a public space as well as a licence for music use in staff rooms? Then you can apply for a special arrangement in certain cases.
Playlists & eLicensing
You can submit your playlist via eLicensing (FR version - NL version). Please log in first. Then go to "My registrations".
- Click on the pencil of the event for which you have to fill in the playlist(s).
- Click on "Actions playlist".
- Fill in the playlist or delegate the playlist to, for instance, the artist or DJ.
If you choose to delegate the playlist, the artist or DJ will receive an e-mail with a link to the playlist. He or she does not need a separate login.
If the artist has already completed the playlist, ask him or her for the reference number. You can then specify this number via your MyUnisono account.
Please do so by filling in the required fields for one work and filling in the reference number as a comment.