If you are the owner of an Airbnb rental, this will certainly not have escaped your notice: Sacem claims copyright from the owners of seasonal rentals. Some denounce a scam, others an illegal procedure while others agree with Sacem. Our concierge agency in Cassis explains the ins and outs of this very special news for owners everywhere in France.
When Sacem claims copyright from owners of Airbnb seasonal rentals:
Many owners testify to having received a letter from the SACEM (Society of Authors, Composers and Publishers of Music) asking them to pay a sum in return for the provision of means to distribute music in their rented accommodation (radio, television, etc.). The sum of 223 euros for a one-year authorization is mentioned in most of the testimonies. The problem: the owners do not see the relationship between seasonal rental and copyright and widely dispute the payment of this tax.
« Don't let it go and pay blindly"," If I provide a hi-fi system so that the traveler can listen to his CDs, I can't help it if he uses the Radio function. "Or" A radio alarm clock available free of charge, the host has no action 'selling' music. It's a real difference with a concert, a restaurant or a store with background music. » are all comments from owners published on one of the Airbnb community sites.
Only, this approach on the part of Sacem is not a scam and is indeed the subject of a legal process: If they can surprise the owners who have recently embarked on seasonal rental, this approach is known to all. shopkeepers open to the public, in particular bed and breakfasts, which have long been accustomed to these procedures vis-à-vis Sacem. If the payment of this unexpected sum is enough to confuse many owners offering their accommodation on Airbnb, Sacem's approach is nonetheless well founded. Details Nada, director of our Airbnb concierge agency in Cassis.
What is the role of Sacem?
The Society of Authors, Composers and Publishers of Music is not new, since it was created in 1847. It is a non-profit society carrying out several missions on behalf of national administrations, including the Control Commission, the Court of Auditors or the tax and social administration. Its main mission is to collect and distribute royalties due to authors, composers and publishers, whether they are members or not.
Its mission focuses only on music subject to copyright: free music (of copyright) therefore naturally does not enter its field of action and the latter can be distributed freely and free of charge without payment of tax. . Its non-profit vocation thus leads it to redistribute 85% to 90% of its revenue each year to rights holders: Authors, composers, etc.
I pay the television license fee, do I have to pay Sacem for my Airbnb?
The annual tax commonly known as the TV Fee is totally independent of Sacem. The famous contribution to public audiovisual in the amount of 138 euros in France is used to finance the various public audiovisual groups (France televisions, Radio France, France media, etc.) and is paid for any household equipped with a television or device associated. The license fee is therefore not linked to copyright but serves as a contribution to State expenditure for public broadcasting. Note also that this tax is doomed to disappear in the coming years, just like the housing tax.
Payment for copyright to Sacem is entirely independent of it: it does not concern the same institutions and does not serve the same objectives.
Do seasonal rental owners have to pay Sacem?
While there are indeed exceptions, seasonal rentals are effectively subject to Sacem, as are obviously events, but also commercial premises open to the public and guest rooms. The provision of means to broadcast music in a commercial premises requires the payment of Sacem, the amount of which is generally 223 euros for owners of rental properties. This can be done when receiving mail from Sacem but also by means of the authorization request, allowing you to benefit from a 20% reduction.
