Soundreef Ltd is a UK-based Independent Management Entity (IME), incorporated in 2011 and recognized under EU Directive 2014/26/EU for the management of copyright and royalties in the music sector. It is part of the Soundreef S.p.A. group, which is known for its technological approach to music rights management and royalty distribution. Soundreef Ltd provides an alternative to traditional national collective management organizations (CMOs), such as SGAE, GEMA, SIAE, and SACEM, by licensing music for use in stores, live events, and other business environments. The organization automates rights management, ensuring fast payments and full transparency for music creators and publishers, and operates in over 20 countries while administering rights for tens of thousands of songs and clients globally.
Soundreef’s business model focuses on maximizing earnings for rights holders and simplifying licensing for commercial users. Their main offerings include “Soundreef In-store” for retail music licensing and “Soundreef Live” for event licensing, covering a catalog of over 150,000 songs for more than 35,000 musicians and publishers. The firm emphasizes rapid royalty payments, real-time tracking, and user-friendly self-service platforms for artists and music users. Soundreef’s technological edge sets it apart in a traditionally opaque industry, and it actively engages with EU policymakers to modernize copyright and royalty frameworks.
Soundreef Ltd has played a pivotal role in lobbying for greater transparency and competition within the EU’s music rights management landscape, particularly challenging monopolistic practices of incumbent CMOs. The company’s lobbying has focused on policies that encourage cross-border services, reduce administrative burdens for rights holders, and promote fair royalty sharing within the digital single market. Though still smaller than some established CMOs, Soundreef’s EU-level activities have contributed to regulatory change and opened the market to competition. Through its transparent operations and advocacy, Soundreef Ltd aims to lead the transformation of music copyright management in the EU and beyond
