Music libraries: how do they work?

Music libraries are intended for the sound illustration of audiovisual projects with legal and pricing flexibility impossible to achieve with commercially released music catalogs. The purpose of music libraries is to provide music solutions to audiovisual and media professionals by offering a service fully adapted to their needs.

1 → They offer a wide selection

They provide a very broad range of musical styles and expressions: rock, rap, electronic, jazz, world music, classical repertoire, archive music, film music, traditional music, etc.
Each music library producer has established pricing with no surprises, independent of the selected work, unlike commercially released music.

2 → They are highly accessible

3 → Licensing is very fast

Licensing is completed very quickly, unlike commercially released music. There is a single point of contact: producer and publisher are combined. This guarantees secure and peaceful use of the selected works.

In France, I would like to use
music for…

A documentary

  • I must obtain authorization from the producer (phonographic usage rights).
    1. The producer will ask me to complete a report called a “cue sheet”.
    2. Based on this cue sheet, I will be invoiced according to the duration of music used. Most producers offer a flat fee beyond ten minutes of music usage.
    3. I will obtain 30-year worldwide rights for all media.
  • A declaration must be submitted to SACEM and/or SDRM (copyright).
    1. I must send my cue sheet to the broadcaster so that they can declare it to SACEM upon broadcast.
    2. If the documentary is distributed on physical media (DVD or other), I must contact SDRM.

A feature film

  • I must obtain authorization from the producer (phonographic usage rights).
    1. The producer will ask me to complete a report called a “cue sheet”.
    2. Based on this cue sheet, I will be invoiced according to the number of works and duration used.
    3. I will obtain 30-year worldwide rights for all media.
  • A declaration must be submitted to SACEM and/or SDRM (copyright).
    1. I must send my cue sheet to the broadcaster so that they can declare it to SACEM upon broadcast.
    2. If the film is distributed on physical media, I must contact SDRM.

A TV movie

  • I must obtain authorization from the producer (phonographic usage rights).
    1. The producer will ask me to complete a report called a “cue sheet”.
    2. Based on this cue sheet, I will be invoiced according to the number of works and duration used.
    3. I will obtain 30-year worldwide rights for all media.
  • A declaration must be submitted to SACEM and/or SDRM (copyright).
    1. I must send my cue sheet to the broadcaster so that they can declare it to SACEM upon broadcast.
    2. If the film is distributed on physical media, I must contact SDRM.

Another TV program

  • I must obtain authorization from the producer (phonographic usage rights).
    1. The producer will ask me to complete a report called a “cue sheet”.
    2. Phonographic usage rights are collectively managed by SCPP or SPPF, so I will not receive an invoice from the producer.
  • A declaration must be submitted to SACEM and/or SDRM (copyright).
    1. I must send my cue sheet to the broadcaster so that they can declare it to SACEM upon broadcast.
    2. If the TV program is distributed on physical media, I must contact SDRM.

An advertisement

  • I must obtain authorization from the producer (phonographic usage rights).
    1. The producer will request all information regarding the work(s) used as well as the media plan.
    2. Billing will depend on the number of works used and the media plan.
    3. I will obtain rights for a specific territory and duration according to the media plan.
  • A declaration must be submitted to SACEM and/or SDRM (copyright).
    1. I must send my cue sheet to the broadcaster so that they can declare it to SACEM upon broadcast.

A corporate film

  • I must obtain authorization from the producer (phonographic usage rights).
    1. The producer will ask me to complete a “Corporate Film Declaration” to be sent to SDRM.
    2. After SDRM processes the declaration, I will be invoiced according to the distribution medium and duration used.
    3. I will obtain 30-year worldwide rights with unlimited copies.
  • A declaration for a corporate film must be submitted to SDRM.
    1. I must declare the number of copies made.
    2. Beyond 50 copies, copyright fees increase in tiers (see the SDRM price list).
    3. I will be invoiced according to the distribution medium and duration used.

A web report

  • I must obtain authorization from the producer (phonographic usage rights).
    1. The producer will ask me to complete a “Web Report Declaration” to be sent to SDRM.
    2. After SDRM processes the declaration, I will be invoiced according to the duration used.
    3. I will obtain 3-year worldwide rights.
  • A declaration for a web report must be submitted to SDRM.
    1. I will be invoiced according to the duration used.

Any other use

  • I must contact the producer of the selected work.