On Thursday 1 May (Labor Day) and Friday 2 May (bridging day) we will be exceptionally unavailable by phone. Do you have a question? Please check out our handy FAQs or contact us using the contact form.
How can we help you?
Unisono
Music from the public domain:
- music of which the authors and composers passed away more than 70 years ago;
- and of which the recording is more than 70 years old.
If both conditions are met, you don’t have to pay Unisono. If not, you will have to pay copyright royalties and/or the Fair Remuneration to Unisono.
Using audiovisual works
Audiovisual work
Film screening
To organise a film screening in a public setting, you need to arrange the screening rights (for the images) and the music rights (for the music in the film).
Are you planning on playing music before or after the film or during the interval? Then you will have to pay royalties for that as well.
Screening rights
You can contact Bevrijdingsfilms (responsible for the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium) or Libération Films (responsible for the French-speaking part of Belgium).
Bevrijdingsfilms
Tel.: 016/23 29 35
info@bevrijdingsfilms.be
Libération Films
Tel.: 02/217 48 47
info@liberationfilms.be
In cooperation with most Belgian, major American, and several Dutch and French distributors, they manage the screening rights of over 15,000 titles.
Is the film not a part of their catalogue? Please contact the producer/distributor of the film. You can find this information on the cover of the film, video, DVD, etc.
Music in the film
You can arrange the music rights quickly and easily at MyUnisono. Do this at least five days before the screening to avoid extra costs. You can find the rate here: Dutch – French.
You can arrange not only the screening rights but also the music rights via Bevrijdingsfilms. Be sure to check with them and make it easy on yourself.
Music before/after the film or during the interval
The Fair Remuneration is also owed for this use of music. Please apply for your licence at least five days before the screening via MyUnisono. You can find the rate here: Dutch – French.
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 2025, the annual fee for a DJ licence is € 271,14 excluding 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
ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) is an international identification system for sound recordings and music videos. It is a unique and permanent identification of a particular recording and can be encoded as a digital fingerprint in a publication of that recording.
Would you like to use an ISRC code? Then please contact SIMIM.
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
You can find all rates on our website, both for daily use (FR - NL) and for events (FR - NL)
Or contact us via the contact form. Please don’t forget to specify your customer number as well as the invoice number.
Events
It is often the rights holders themselves who have your content blocked by the streaming platform. It is best to ask questions about this directly to the platform that blocked your content. They are the only ones who can help you with this.
Reproducing a work of visual art
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/
Yes, there are. According to the Code of Economic Law, there are three exceptions where the author cannot oppose a reproduction:
- When short fragments of works or complete works of visual art are communicated to the public in a report on current events.
- In the case of reproduction and public communication for advertising purposes, public exhibitions or public sales of artistic works, in so far as it is necessary for the promotion of those events.
- When a work is quoted for the purpose of criticism, polemics, reviews, education, or in the context of scientific works. However, you do have to state the source and the name of the author.
All exceptions must be interpreted restrictively.
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):
BMG Production Music Mr Tom Bakvis | Oude Amersfoortseweg 123-2 1212 AA Hilversum | (+31) 35 760 14 80 |
tom.bakvis@bmg.com | bmgproductionmusic.be | |
CTM Entertainment Ms Benthe Waegeman | Barastraat 175 1070 Anderlecht | (02)560.21.15 |
Benthe.Waegeman@ctmentertainment.be info@ctmentertainment.be | ctmentertainment.be | |
MUSIC & IMAGES Ms Annemie Hendrikx | Eugène Plaskylaan 179 1030 Brussel | (02)612.17.89 (0475)83.42.16 |
annemie@musicandimages.be | musicandimages.be universalproductionmusic.com extrememusic.com | |
SMI Production Music Ms Brigitte Mwani | Broosveldstraat 2A 3570 Alken | (0473)88.92.40 |
brigitte@smipm.com | smipm.com sonoton.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 easily do so via the contact form on our website or at stop@unisono.be.
There are two possible scenarios:
1. You no longer use music in your business
Let us know at least 1 month before your licence expires. Please note: your licence does not expire in any case until 31 December of the current calendar year and the invoice for the current year remains due in full.
Do you cancel your licence too late? Then we will automatically extend your licence by one year.
2. You cease your business activities
In this case, provide us with a document showing the exact date of termination. Possible proof of termination are:
• proof of transfer of the business;
• proof of termination of the rental agreement;
• entry in the Belgian Official Gazette;
• proof of VAT deregistration;
• proof from the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises.
If you permanently cease your activities in the first 6 months of the calendar year, you are entitled to a refund of 50% of the fee paid for that year. Be sure to apply for this refund via our contact form or at stop@unisono.be.
Are you unable to provide us with proof? Then we will only terminate your licence on 31 December of the current calendar year and the invoice for the current year will still be due in full.
Unisono’s aim is to grant licences for the repertoire:
- of the authors, represented by Sabam;
- of the performing artists, represented by PlayRight;
- and of the music producers, represented by Simim.
These three organisations represent the repertoires of their members and have concluded agreements with sister organisations abroad to also represent the rights of their members, and vice versa. This means that Unisono must also act on behalf of the members of other management organisations abroad. Unisono therefore does not only represent the repertoire of its Belgian members.
Playing foreign music in your business does not mean you don’t have to pay your Unisono invoice.
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.