Production music (library music)

Production music is not released to the general public. Instead it's organized in easily accessible archives made available to production companies.

When marketing production music we ask members to sign a separate application, which constitutes an exception to the general assignment of rights made to STIM through the membership contract. This allows for the responsibility of licensing and monitoring music usage to be returned to our member - so-called Direct Licensing. The individual musical works are then registered as usual in the works register via “My Pages” on the STIM website. All registered works intended to be licensed directly as production music by members are to be marked as "LIB" in the “Intended use" box, when registering.

Production music – the official definition

Direct licensing of synchronization rights and duplication rights may only apply to production music defined as follows:
 
A musical work, not commissioned music, which is solely created* to serve as a complement (non-exclusively), in audio and audiovisual productions**.

* Primarily intended for production companies and similar companies to use as background music in their own audio and visual productions.

** For example, radio advertisements, computer games, TV programmes, etc.

Apply here to be authorized for direct licensing of production music (pdf)

Production music checklist

• Direct licensing applies only to synchronization and duplicating - not to public performances, for example.

• All co-writers and publishers of a musical work must apply to be registered for direct licensing of production music.

• All works which are to be licensed directly by members are to be marked “LIB” in the works register. Failure to do this will result in the work being incorrectly licensed and invoiced.

• Members who produce and market library music are responsible for ensuring that the master recording rights and rights of musicians and featured artists (so-called neighboring rights) are duly authorized.