International distributions
What’s the process when your music is performed internationally? Do you receive payments for all types of international performances? And from all countries? You can read about it here.
As a member of Koda, you are covered when your music is played internationally. Koda has agreements with about 100 rights management organizations worldwide. This means that performances of your music are treated according to the same rules and tariffs that the organizations apply to their own members. When Koda members' music is played internationally, it is handled by the local rights management organization, which then sends reports and money to Koda. Also, for some international online music services, Koda receives payments directly from the music service. Once received, Koda then forwards the money to our members.
In this way, Koda ensures that our members receive payment when their music is played all around the world.
How does the payment reach you for music played internationally?
1. Your song is being played on the radio and reported
Let's say your song is played on the radio in Australia. The performance is therefore managed by the Australian rights management organization, APRA, in accordance with their local rules. The radio station reports the radio play to APRA. Depending on the agreement the radio station has with APRA, it may take some time before APRA receives the report.
2. Rights holders are identified
APRA handles the reporting from the radio station. Your song is linked to the musical work you have registered with Koda. APRA knows that you are a member of Koda. Therefore, Koda receives money in APRA's next payout for this radio station. It varies from organization to organization, but it can take as long as 12-18 months before Koda receives money, depending on where the performance took place.
3. Reports and amounts are sent to Koda and we will pay it to you
Koda receives the payment from APRA and matches the information with your work registration. We check that we have received the correct share for all the rights holders. If everything looks as it should, we will pay out to you in Koda's next monthly payment.
How does Koda work with international use of your music?
Koda continuously optimizes the way we receive payments when your music is played internationally. For the most important online music services, such as Spotify, we have a direct agreement with the music service, and we receive money directly from them – also when your music is played internationally. In other areas, we have entered into agreements with other rights management organizations around the world. If your music, for example, is played in Germany, it is GEMA, the German rights management organization, that handles the music performance in accordance with their local rules and tariffs. GEMA sends money to Koda, and Koda forwards the money to you without any deductions. With a membership in Koda, you are thus ensured that the public performance of your music is managed across most of the world and according to the exact same rules and tariffs as if you were a direct member of the local rights management organization.
For the sake of clarity, we should mention that there are countries and territories where Koda does not have any agreements in place. This is especially true for Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. This is typically because there is no rights management organization in the country in question. If your music is played in a country where Koda has no agreement, you will not receive money through Koda.
If you have any questions about your payment for international use of your music, you are always welcome to contact Koda's international team:
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Contact Koda's International team
At Koda's International team, we are ready to assist you if you have any questions about payments when your music has been used internationally. Therefore, please write to us if you have questions about radio plays in Germany, TV performances in the USA, or anything similar.
Write to [email protected]