📌 Introduction
If your music is used in a film, TV series, documentary, or any other audiovisual product, Soundreef will collect and pay you the related royalties.
Let's see how it works.
1️⃣ 🎬 How are the rights collected?
✔ Soundreef collects and distributes royalties for music used in films, TV series, documentaries, short films, commercials, and other audiovisual products.
✔ The collection occurs both for cinema screenings and for broadcasts on TV, streaming platforms, or other distribution forms that fall under the managed rights categories.
✔ For rights accrued abroad, Soundreef collects through reciprocity agreements with local collecting societies.
📎 Note: The synchronization negotiation phase between the music author and the audiovisual producer is independent of copyright management and is not handled by Soundreef. The author is free to negotiate separately the terms for the use of their works in audiovisuals.
2️⃣ 📝 How are royalties distributed?
✔ Distribution is done through the cue sheet, the official document listing all the music used in an audiovisual product.
✔ Royalties are distributed to the rights holders based on the duration of the music and in proportion to the total duration of the work.
✔ If the film contains tracks by authors registered with Soundreef as well as authors registered with other collecting societies, the distribution will occur pro-rata based on the data provided by the cue sheet.
📎 Note: The cue sheet is essential for ensuring correct compensation attribution and is generally compiled by the audiovisual production.
3️⃣ 📤 What can I do to facilitate the collection of my rights?
✔ It's not mandatory, but it's helpful! If you can, you can provide Soundreef (via Messenger on the site or in your account) with some information that can assist in tracking:
The cue sheet of the film, documentary, or TV series.
Details of the audiovisual work's producer.
The dates and cinemas where the work was screened, if it's a theatrical release.
📎 Note: providing this information can make the collection process faster and more efficient.
4️⃣ 📂 Where can I find my royalties for audiovisual uses?
✔ Royalties accrued for uses in films, TV series, and documentaries are published in the Royalty section of your Soundreef account:
Live Performances → Cinema screenings
Radio/TV → TV broadcasts
Online → Streaming platform distributions
✔ If you have questions about a use that is not yet reported, you can contact Soundreef Support, providing all the details useful for identifying the work and the synchronized music.
5️⃣ 🎼 What are synchronization rights and who manages them?
✔ Synchronization rights refer to the authorization needed to match music with moving images, such as in films, TV programs, commercials, online videos, and other audiovisual content.
✔ This type of right allows the use of a musical composition as the soundtrack of an audiovisual work.
🔒 Who manages these rights? ✔ Soundreef does not manage synchronization rights.
✔ Management is done directly by the authors, publishers, or rights holders, who must be contacted to authorize the use of the track.
📺 And if the track is broadcast as part of a commercial? ✔ In this case, Soundreef collects the copyright related to the public broadcast (TV, radio, etc.) but does not manage the synchronization authorization.
✔ Collection occurs directly in Italy and through reciprocity agreements abroad.
❓ FAQ
🔹 Does Soundreef negotiate synchronizations with production companies or agencies?
No, Soundreef does not manage synchronization licenses, which must be negotiated directly between the rights holder (author/publisher) and the producer of the audiovisual work.
🔹 Can I facilitate the tracking of my uses in audiovisuals?
Yes. If possible, send Soundreef the cue sheet, producer details, and distribution information (cinema, TV, streaming). This helps speed up the identification process.
🔹 Where do I see the compensation from synchronizations?
In the Royalty section of your Soundreef account: Public Performances, Radio/TV, or Online, depending on the mode of use of the work.
🔹 Is the cue sheet mandatory?
It's the production's responsibility, but it's crucial because it allows for the correct attribution of royalties.
📌 Conclusion
Soundreef handles the collection and distribution of royalties from the use of your music in audiovisual products. The synchronization license, however, is managed directly by the authors, publishers, or rights holders, with the producers of the audiovisuals. Providing information such as cue sheets and production details can speed up tracking.