Impossibility of listening to music

You want to request a special arrangement because it is impossible for a large part of your staff to listen to music in the workplace, while other staff members do listen to music.

You can immediately use MyUnisono, our handy tool that allows you to manage your licence online.

By 'impossibility', Unisono means:

• Technical impossibility: e.g. it is mandatory to wear headphones to prevent hearing damage.
• Working with loud machines that exclude any music listening.
• A physical reason such as deafness.

Special annual copyright rate (excl. 6% VAT)

To be eligible for the special annual rate, it must be impossible for at least 75% of the total number of FTEs on the social balance sheet as at 31 December of the previous year to listen to music in the workplace.

In that case, when calculating the rate, the number of FTEs is reduced by the number of FTEs for whom it is impossible to listen to music.

The following rates will then apply:

Music in the workplace

Combination rate

Staff parties

If the reduced number of FTEs is less than 9 FTEs, then the tranche ‘1 to 10’ FTEs of the special rate applies.

If, according to the general rate, you fall in the tranche ‘9 to 10’ FTEs and you obtain a reduced number of FTEs that is less than 9 FTEs, then the tranche ‘9 to 10’ FTEs of the general rate remains applicable for the copyrights, but is reduced by 10%.

Annual rate applicable to the fair remuneration

For the fair remuneration, the calculation method of Art. 10 of the Royal Decree of 8 July 2018 concerning the fair remuneration applies. If the employer can demonstrate that the number of full-time equivalents as included in the social balance sheet does not correspond to the actual number of full-time equivalents in respect of whom a public performance of phonograms is performed, he must sufficiently substantiate the actual number of full-time equivalents in respect of whom a public performance is performed.

The following rates will then apply:

Music in the workplace

Combination rate

Staff parties

No fair remuneration is due if less than 9 FTEs can listen to music.