1 Introduction

This standard was developed by the member organisations of the Digital Data Exchange, LLC (DDEX) and provides a message that gives a uniform mechanism to enable Licensees (typically Digital Service Providers) to report to Rights Controllers (typically Music Rights Societies, Music Publishers, Music Licensing Companies and/or Record Companies) information regarding the level of usage and/or revenue generated from the distribution of such products, as well as sales of products based on Releases, to the relevant Rights Controllers.

The Flat File Variant of the Digital Sales Reporting Message Suite Standard has been developed in response to concerns regarding the file size and computational complexity of the XML Variant, and will lead to reduced implementation and running cost for Licensees and Licensors for reporting  and/or usages of audio-only usages, revenues or sales that are not addressed by any other Profile of the Flat File Variant. This Profile is also for reporting usages, revenues or sales for music videos and Resources for which no Release information is available.

Any organisation wishing to implement this (or any other DDEX standard) is required to apply for an Implementation Licence. The terms of the licence and an application form can be found here and here.

This standard was developed by the member organisations of the Digital Data Exchange, LLC (DDEX) and provides a suite of messages that give a uniform mechanism to enable Release Creators (usually record companies) to inform DSPs about Releases — whether they are newly created or “back catalogue” — that are available for distribution to consumers.

This standard also enables Release Creators to inform DSPs in a standardised way the terms and conditions under which such Releases can be made available.