Nordisk Copyright Bureau
Music on CD, MC, DVD audio, vinyl
- do you release your own music?
If you release your own music on CD, MC, DVD audio or vinyl, up to 1,000 copies may be exempt from NCB royalties if the below conditions are observed (also referred to as "related party recordings").
If you produce more than 1,000 copies - and the below conditions are fulfilled - you may choose to pay only 10% of the actually invoiced amount (to cover NCB's administration costs).
Certificate to be sent to NCB
Conditions for exemption from NCB royalties
- The producer (the one who is responsible for the release of the recording) must be identical with the composer/songwriter of all songs on the recording.
- If you are two or more persons who have co-written all songs on the recording and you jointly release the recording, the procedure may also apply.
- The producer (the one who is respondible for the release of the recording) is liable for payment of royalties and other obligations towards NCB who administers the copyright in the recorded music.
- The release must be made under the producer's own label.
Pay attention to the following instances
- If it is a re-issue og re-release of a previous recording the exemption does not apply.
- If the release is made on various media (CD, DVD audio, MC, etc), the total number of royalty free copies cannot exceed 1,000.
- If the release is a box that contains several units, each box counts as one unit - meaning that the first 1,000 boxes will be exempt from NCB royalties.
- If the rights in the music is not owned 100% by the author (composer/songwriter) - e.g. part of the rights have been assigned to a publishing house - the procedure does not apply (unless the publishing house in question is owned 100% by the author).
This is how you do it
- Click this link to open the web application form.
- In the screen display titled "Recording details" you must select "Yes" under the heading of "Related party production". A link will now appear to the certificate mentioned above. Please fill in and sign the certificate and submit it to NCB.
- Having received the signed certificate, we will be able to process your application.
- If you opt for the "10% procedure" (explained above) you must clearly indicate this on your application - the indication can be made on the last page of the application where you will find a "Remarks" field.
