Radio and TV

Radio

If your music is played on radio stations, internationally, there is unfortunately no guarantee that you will be paid. Your music must be included on the playlists that the station sends to the performing rights organisation in each country. This is because many collecting societies use a system called sampling (not to be confused with track sampling, which is completely different). Sampling, in this case, means that the societies request information about what has been played on radio or TV on certain days or in certain weeks. Only if your music has been played on one of these occasions will you be paid.

Television and movies

Music in movies and TV shows is reported to STIM via lists detailing what has been played and for how long. These lists are called cue sheets. If your music has been played in a TV show and you should have been paid but haven’t been, this may be because cue sheets are not used in that country. If you have access to the cue sheet for the production, you should include it when you file a claim with STIM.

Advertising

The rules on how royalties are paid for music in advertising differ from country to country. In some countries no remuneration whatsoever is made for music used in advertising.