Is your music broadcast on radio, television or via a video-on-demand platform? Then you're entitled to a payment. Sabam ensures you receive the compensation you’re due – in Belgium and abroad.
Fair compensation for radio, TV and VOD
This page is divided into two parts:
Radio & Television
Every time your music is broadcast, it generates copyright royalties. Whether it’s played on BBC Radio 1 or featured in a documentary on national TV, Sabam collects those rights and ensures you receive fair compensation.
Where do the royalties come from?
Sabam invoices broadcasting rights to:
- public and commercial broadcasters like VRT and DPG Media
- cable operators such as Telenet and Proximus
- public venues with radio or TV (shops, cafés...)
How does Sabam know your music was broadcast?
We combine broadcaster playlists with fingerprinting technology that automatically recognizes music. This allows us to reliably detect your music in:
- more than 35 local radio stations
- 10 Belgian nightclubs
- all national radio and TV broadcasts since 2019
Check the full list of stations and venues we monitor 24/7.
How is your compensation calculated?
Several factors influence how much you receive:
- Identification: through playlists and fingerprinting
- Duration: the longer your work is played, the higher the amount
- Genre: each genre has a specific valuation
- Type of use: jingle, background music, repeat broadcast – they all count
When do you get paid?
Your payment is made in two steps: an advance in June and a final settlement in October.
- June: advance payment if the amount exceeds €25
- October: final payment
Example: Was your music broadcast on 1 June 2024? You’ll receive payment by October 2025 at the latest.
Broadcast abroad?
Report it via MySabam. We’ll forward your information to the local authors’ society so you also receive your payment there.
Make sure your music is properly identified
Only registered works can be properly compensated. Upload your tracks via MyTrax in your MySabam account.
Video on Demand (VOD)
Where do the royalties come from?
We also invoice copyright royalties for VOD – from both paid and free platforms:
- paid platforms like Netflix and Streamz
- free services from public broadcasters like VRT MAX and Auvio
- free platforms from commercial broadcasters like VTM GO and GoPlay
How is your compensation calculated?
For VOD, your payment depends on how often your music is played and the role it plays in the production. Key factors include:
- Per stream: every listen counts
- Proportional use: based on the share your music represents
- Cue sheets: show exactly what music is used in each scene
- International: we also collect your royalties abroad
The importance of cue sheets
Tip: Make sure your producer or client submits cue sheets that are complete and accurate.
When do you get paid?
VOD payments are made once a year for Belgium, and four times a year for international rights:
- Belgium: annually in November via ‘Belgian Performance Rights: Video on Demand’
- Abroad: four times a year via ‘International Performance Rights’ and ‘International Mechanical Rights’
Important for all broadcasts
Important: without accurate metadata – title, composers, performers – we cannot identify your work. Be sure your registration matches exactly what’s used on air or on the platform.