Rights for use of music

Last updated on 22.12.2025

What are Unisono, Sabam en Equitable Remuneration? What do they do and what are the differences?

Different terms and names are used interchangeably, which can be confusing. Let’s break it down for you here!

Unisono

Unisono is a collaborative platform that allows you to settle the necessary paperwork for the use of protected music with a single declaration, covering both copyright (via Sabam) as well as the neighbouring rights (via PlayRight and SIMIM).

Sabam

Management companies (or ‘beheersvennootschappen’) manage the economic rights of authors (creators, artists, …) who are registered with them. In other words, they make sure that authors can earn money with the exploitation of their work.

The best known  management company in Belgium is Sabam, the Belgian Association of Authors, Composers and Publishers. It manages the rights of almost 50.000 members in 5 domains: music, film & television, theatre & dance, visual arts and literature. Sabam is the only management company for music authors. In addition to Sabam, SACD is also a well-known player (mainly known for creators of dance and theatre). Internationally, there are many associations that tend to focus on specific disciplines.

What does Sabam do?

Sabam is a private company recognised by the government. Its members/artists are shareholders and co-directors. Sabam ensures that copyright law is correctly complied with, it collects copyright royalties and distributes them among its members.

Sabam collects copyright royalties from people who use music and pays them to the authors (registered with Sabam) that are entitled to it. This means that music users don’t have to track down every single artist of every single song to make a (financial) agreement with them. 

Which artists does Sabam collect for?

Sabam manages the rights of creators (copyright), not the rights of performers (neighbouring rights). Performers can use the equitable remuneration. Read more about the difference between copyright and neighbouring rights on our page about the principles of intellectual property.

Sabam only manages the rights of works still covered by copyright. Sabam cannot collect royalties for works by authors who have been deceased for more than 70 years, and have therefore entered the public domain.

Sabam can only act for authors who are registered with them or their international partners. For Sabam has ties to international management companies for the rights of foreign artists. Roughly put, you could say that the copyrights on almost all popular music are managed by Sabam.

In Sabam’s online catalogue you can check whether the copyright to a specific author or song is managed by them or not.

Are you organising an event where no song at all from Sabam's repertoire will be played? Then you still have to report to them and upload your playlist so it can be checked. But ultimately, you won't have to pay.

Rates

SABAM applies various rates for various types of organisations and events. There are annual rates or rates for shorter events. All the rates have their own guidelines, parameters and conditions. 

In our sector, the following rates are the ones most commonly applied (in Dutch):

• RATE 118: Dance schools (including annual fees)
• RATE 105: Parties (e.g. dance parties, balls etc.)
• RATE 107: Shows and performances (e.g. performances by dance groups)
• RATE 122: Dinners, barbecues etc.

In the following chapters, we’ll explain the different rates and their use in more detail (information available early 2026).

Equitable Renumeration

Equitable Remuneration is a compensation for performing artists and music producers, i.e. holders of neighbouring rights.

Performing artists, such as musicians who record music on a CD, cannot oppose the use of their repertoire in public. Imagine if every time you put on a CD with classical music, you had to ask for the 50-piece orchestra’s consent …

In return, these performers are automatically entitled to remuneration, which has to be paid by the person using the music. This remuneration is collected ‘collectively’ from all music users, and then distributed to the rights holders.

When are you not required to pay equitable remuneration? 

If you only play live music at your event, no Equitable Remuneration has to be paid.

Rates

When it comes to Equitable Remuneration there are also different rates for different types of organisations and events. You can choose annual rates or rates for events. All the rates have their own guidelines, parameters and conditions. 

In our sector, the following rates are the ones most commonly applied:

• Rate 3: Services and liberal professions (annual rate) for self-employed persons and companies
• Rate 10: Basic rate social and cultural activities (annual rate) for associations (‘vzws’ in Dutch) and factual associations
• Rate 11: Multi-purpose venues (annual rate)
• Rate 13: Cultural centres (annual rate)
• Rate 14: Temporary indoor activities (day rate)
• Rate 15: Temporary activities in open air (day rate)

You can find the exact rates in this overview of equitable remuneration (in Dutch).

In the following chapters, we’ll explain the different rates and their use in more detail (information available early 2026).