What is the Soundfile Upload?
As a GEMA member, you have the possibility to upload your works, and all the metadata around your work, online. After your approval, different service providers, such as Soundmouse, BMAT, or Yacast, can monitor the use of your works closely. This means that GEMA can monitor where your tracks are being played in public (in commercials, on TV, on the radio or in clubs) and generate royalties accordingly.
After having uploaded your works, filled out all the mandatory fields, and the use of your soundfiles for monitoring has been granted, your soundfile and your metadata are ready for a so-called "Audio fingerprinting".
In order to recognise musical works and monitor their use, a unique "Audio fingerprint" is attributed to each sound recording, which allows you to track exactly where and when your works are being played in public.
How do you upload your work via MusicHub?
Once you are logged in to MusicHub, click on the "Tracks" tab in the top menu bar. Now you will see both drafts and already published tracks.
Please note that the Soundfile Upload can only be activated for already published tracks. Your published tracks are marked with the green button "Live".
Select a track that is live. Next to the overview of your track information and the Work Declaration, you'll see the "Soundfile Upload" button.
If you have never used the Soundfile Upload functionality yet, you have to activate it in the GEMA Online Portal first.
If you have already used the Soundfile Upload, check the box "I have used the Soundfile Upload".
Now find your GEMA work title or work number through the integrated GEMA Repertoire Search. For you as a GEMA member, having access to this data in one single place means that everything will match 100% and therefore be registered correctly, ensuring that all participants are enumerated fairly!
Scrolling down, you can follow your track usage details.
State whether your track has already been commissioned for broadcasting and if so, what the purpose of the commission was, or which broadcaster commissioned it (e.g. ZDF, ARD, ProSieben, Deutschlandradio etc.).
If the track was not commissioned, you can specify whether the track is considered production music (also called stock music or library music).
Now you can select whether your track may be used for TV/radio, online services or adverts or in clubs and discotheques.
Click on "Enable Soundfile Upload" and have a look at the status of your tracks in your GEMA Online Portal under Soundfile Upload.
Where and when can I expect to see royalties resulting from Soundfile Upload?
As of now, you can upload your soundfiles via MusicHub. However, your royalties resulting from this monitoring will still be distributed by GEMA, as these are publishing rights royalties (having to do with the songwriting - i.e. the underlying composition, and not the sound recording). The sound recording royalties (in the context of Soundfile Upload) are paid out via the Neighbouring Rights collecting society, GVL.
If you are a new member at GEMA, you will receive your first royalty distribution in the following year. Otherwise, you can find GEMA's distribution dates here.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact our Customer Support Team at support@music-hub.com.