REKN
Performing Rights Organisation · Belgium

How to register with SABAM.

Register with SABAM, Belgium's authors' rights society, to collect both performance and mechanical royalties monitored across 205+ streaming platforms and through international reciprocal agreements.

⏱ 20–30 minutesPerformance royaltiesMechanical royalties
1

Apply for SABAM Membership

Apply at sabam.be. You'll need:

  • Government-issued photo ID
  • Proof of creative authorship (a release on a streaming platform is sufficient)

    • Fees:

  • €75 one-time administrative fee on joining
  • SABAM takes approximately 8% commission on collected royalties — one of the lowest rates in Europe
  • SABAM pays monthly for streaming royalties

    • No minimum work count is required. SABAM accepts new members with even a single published work.

    Apply at SABAM →
    Why this matters

    SABAM handles both performance AND mechanical royalties for Belgian artists through a single membership — making it one of the most efficient registrations for full coverage.

    Common mistake

    Delaying because you think you need a large catalog. You don't — even one released song qualifies you.

    2

    Set Up MySabam Portal

    After membership confirmation, request access to the MySabam online portal by emailing affiliation@sabam.be.


    The portal is required for:

  • Declaring your works
  • Uploading audio for fingerprinting
  • Submitting live setlists
  • Viewing royalty statements
    • MySabam Portal →
    Why this matters

    Everything you need to do as a SABAM member is done through MySabam. Without portal access, you cannot declare works or receive royalties.

    Common mistake

    Waiting for SABAM to set up the account automatically. You must email them to request access — it's not created automatically.

    3

    Establish Your Publishing Status

    Decide your publishing arrangement:

  • If you have a publisher: Your publisher declares your works on your behalf via their SABAM agreement. Confirm this with them.
  • If you're independent: You declare all works yourself through MySabam.

    • SABAM's ICE Agreement system generates an ICE Agreement Number — your international catalog identifier.

    Why this matters

    If both you and your publisher try to declare the same work, it creates a conflict in the SABAM system that can delay payments for months.

    Common mistake

    Not clarifying with your publisher who is responsible for declarations. Assumed ownership leads to duplicate registrations or missed declarations.

    4

    Declare Each Work in MyWorx

    In the MySabam portal, use MyWorx to declare each composition:

  • Title (must match your distributor's metadata exactly — even capitalization matters)
  • Duration
  • Genre (affects point allocation)
  • Your role (composer, lyricist, arranger)
  • PR% and MR% split with co-writers

    • SABAM monitors 205+ streaming platforms — your registered works are automatically matched.

    MySabam — Declare Works
    Why this matters

    SABAM's automated matching compares your declared works against streaming reports from 205+ platforms. The title must match perfectly — even "Radio Edit" added or removed breaks the match.

    Common mistake

    Adding tags to the title like "(Radio Edit)" or "(feat. Artist)" if your distributor didn't. The declaration title must be character-for-character identical to the DSP metadata.

    5

    Upload Audio for Fingerprinting (MyTrax)

    Upload your audio files via MyTrax in MySabam. This enables SABAM's audio fingerprinting to automatically detect when your music plays in clubs, stores, and on radio.


    Upload format: WAV or FLAC (highest quality = best fingerprint accuracy).

    MySabam — Upload Audio
    Why this matters

    Public performance royalties from venues and radio depend on SABAM being able to detect your music. Fingerprinting is how they do this — without an uploaded file, venue plays go uncollected.

    Common mistake

    Uploading a compressed MP3 or streaming-quality file. For fingerprinting to work reliably, upload the highest quality version you have (WAV/FLAC).

    6

    Submit Setlists After Live Shows (MyPlaylist)

    After every live performance in Belgium (or internationally), submit your setlist via MyPlaylist in the MySabam portal.


    International performances are paid quarterly via SABAM's sister society agreements.

    MySabam — MyPlaylist
    Why this matters

    Live performances generate a separate stream of royalties from the venue's blanket license. SABAM has no way to know your setlist without you submitting it.

    Common mistake

    Only submitting setlists for major festivals and ignoring club shows. Smaller venues still pay SABAM — and quarterly accumulation of small gigs adds up.

    Rekon tracks whether you're actually registered with SABAM — and 36 others.

    Connect your platforms once and Rekon flags every registration gap automatically, with the exact fix for each.

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