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❓ How does Soundreef's collection of mechanical rights work when my music is on CDs, Vinyl, or DVDs?

❓ How does Soundreef's collection of mechanical rights work when my music is on CDs, Vinyl, or DVDs?

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If your music is on CDs, vinyl, cassettes, DVDs, or audiobooks, you will receive your mechanical rights.
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The producer of the medium is required to obtain the necessary licenses for the reproduction of the music and ensure the proper payment of royalties.
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Let's take a closer look at how the process works, what the producer needs to do, and what changes if the medium is pressed in Italy or abroad.

1️⃣ What must the producer do to print a phonographic medium in Italy?

✔ The license must be requested by the producer of the medium (label, production company, business, or legal entity that carries out the pressing).

If the medium is printed and published in Italy, the producer must:

  • 📀 request only a Soundreef license - by completing the specific forms, including Label Copy, if the tracks printed on the medium are 100% managed by Soundreef (there are no rights shares managed by SIAE/another collecting society)

  • 📀📀complete both procedures, contacting both societies, if the medium includes tracks with rights managed by both SIAE and Soundreef. ✔ Therefore, in addition to the Soundreef forms, they must also request the SIAE license and complete the respective documentation (DRM2 form and Label Copy).

🔖 SIAE Stickers
From November 15, 2024, it is no longer mandatory to apply the anti-piracy mark (SIAE sticker) on phonographic media intended for distribution in Italy. This legislative change was introduced with the update of art. 181bis of Law no. 633/1941. The request for SIAE marks remains optional and can be made for anti-counterfeiting purposes.

2️⃣ What must the producer do if the printing takes place abroad?

✔ If the medium is reproduced abroad but printed/distributed in Italy, the producer must still follow the procedures provided for publication in Italy, as indicated above.
✔ If both reproduction and printing take place abroad, the producer must follow the rules and procedures of the country where the publication occurs.
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📌 Note: Even if the medium is pressed and distributed abroad, Soundreef still collects your mechanical rights thanks to reciprocity agreements with other Collecting Societies worldwide. The distribution timelines, in this case, depend on those adopted by the collecting society in the country where the rights were accrued.

3️⃣ How are mechanical rights collected and reported?

Soundreef collects your mechanical rights:
✔📀 through direct agreements with the Majors (Sony, Universal, Warner),
✔📀 and by issuing a specific Mechanical License Work by Work when the medium is pressed by external producers.

✔ How is collection managed for products with mixed SIAE/Soundreef repertoire?
If the medium includes tracks with rights managed by both SIAE and Soundreef, the royalty collection will occur in a proportional manner to the rights shares held by Soundreef rights holders in the tracks.

4️⃣ I don't see mechanical products in my reports, what can I do?

✔ If you have doubts about a physical medium containing your music and don't see the related royalties in your account, first consider the reporting timelines:

  • quarterly for Work by Work products,

  • at most semi-annually for products pressed by Majors.
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    ✔📀 If you need, in any case, clarifications on the status of the License process and the reporting of the product, contact Soundreef support, via Messenger on the site or in your account.

❓ FAQ

🔹 Who must request the license to press a CD or vinyl?
The license must be requested by the producer of the medium, that is, the label, production company, business, or legal entity that carries out the printing.

🔹 If the medium contains only Soundreef tracks, is the Soundreef license enough?
Yes, if the tracks printed are 100% managed by Soundreef, it is sufficient to complete the Soundreef procedure only.

🔹 And if the medium also contains SIAE tracks?
The producer must contact both collecting societies: complete the Soundreef forms and also request the SIAE license (DRM2 form and Label Copy).

🔹 Is the SIAE stamp still mandatory?
No. From November 15, 2024, the application of the SIAE stamp is optional and can be requested at the producer's discretion.

🔹 What happens if the medium is printed abroad?
It depends on the distribution:

  • If distributed in Italy → follow Italian procedures.

  • If produced and distributed abroad → follow the rules of the country of publication.

📌 Conclusion

If your music is on a physical medium, you will earn mechanical royalties.

The producer of the medium is responsible for requesting the necessary licenses, following the specific instructions for Italy or abroad.

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