# Catalog Usage Reporting to Labels and Publishers Under Direct Licences > Split enriched usage into a separate report for each label or publisher, in its own format, with every direct-licence deadline tracked. - Segment: B2B Music Licensee - Platform: Noctil Platform - Capabilities: DataFort, MatchIQ, ProcessEngine - Author: Jacob Varghese - Published: 2026-11-07 - Source: https://www.noctil.com/use-cases/catalog-usage-reporting-labels-publishers-direct-licences **In short:** Direct licences with labels and publishers require licensees to report regularly on how each rightsholder's catalog was used. The Noctil Platform turns one set of enriched usage data into a separate report for each label or publisher, containing only its own catalog's usage, in the format it requires. Reporting schedules and deadlines are tracked for each rightsholder, and every report sent is recorded in an audit trail, so licensees stay compliant with every licence. --- _Send every label and publisher its own usage report, on time, every period. For music licensees with direct licences from major and independent labels and publishers, such as karaoke, fitness, gaming, background music and digital services._ ## The Situation Many music licensees license catalogs directly from record labels and music publishers, alongside or instead of collecting-society licences. Each direct licence comes with reporting terms: the licensee must report how that rightsholder's recordings or songs were used, for each reporting period. A licensee with several direct licences reports to several rightsholders, each expecting a report that covers only its own catalog, in its own format and on its own schedule. ## The Problem Meeting the reporting terms of several direct licences is hard to do by hand: - **One usage log, many rightsholders.** Usage data covers songs and recordings from many labels and publishers at once, and has to be split so each one receives only its own catalog's usage. - **Knowing who owns what.** Usage logs rarely identify the label or publisher behind each line, so ownership has to be established before reports can be split. - **A different format for each rightsholder.** Labels and publishers each specify their own report layout and required fields. - **Schedules and deadlines.** Each licence sets its own reporting period and due date. Late or missing reports put the licence and the relationship at risk. - **Proof of compliance.** Licensees need a clear record of what was reported to each rightsholder and when, for audits and disputes. - **Manual effort.** Building, checking and sending separate reports for every rightsholder each period doesn't scale. ## The Solution The Noctil Platform turns a licensee's usage data into a compliant report for every rightsholder. 1. **Enriched usage data as the starting point.** Usage logs are matched and enriched with MatchIQ against more than 55 million musical works and 300 million sound recordings, adding the publishers, labels and identifiers behind each line. (See [Enriching Music Usage Reports with Rights Metadata for Music Licensees](/use-cases/enriching-music-usage-reports-with-rights-metadata-for-licensees).) 2. **A separate report for each rightsholder.** Usage is split by rightsholder, so each label or publisher receives a report containing only its own catalog's usage. 3. **Each rightsholder's format.** DataFort produces each report in the layout and fields that label or publisher requires. 4. **Schedules and deadlines with ProcessEngine.** Each licence's reporting period and due date are set up once. ProcessEngine runs each cycle and flags reports that are due or overdue. 5. **A complete audit trail.** Every report produced and sent is recorded, so the licensee can show exactly what it reported to each rightsholder and when. ## The Result - **Compliance with every direct licence**, with each rightsholder's report produced on schedule - **Each label and publisher sees only its own catalog**, in the format it asked for - **No missed deadlines**, with every reporting cycle tracked - **Audit-ready records** of what was reported to whom and when - **Less manual work**, with reports built from one enriched data set instead of assembled by hand ## Frequently Asked Questions **How do licensees report catalog usage to labels and publishers under direct licences?** The Noctil Platform enriches the licensee's usage data, splits it by rightsholder, and produces a separate report for each label or publisher in the format it requires, on each licence's schedule. **Does each rightsholder only see its own usage?** Yes. Each label or publisher receives a report containing only the usage of its own catalog. **Can reports follow each rightsholder's format?** Yes. Each report is produced in the layout and fields that rightsholder specifies. **How are reporting deadlines tracked?** Each licence's reporting period and due date are set up once, and ProcessEngine flags reports that are due or overdue. **Can we prove what we reported?** Yes. Every report produced and sent is recorded in an audit trail. **How does this relate to metadata enrichment?** Enrichment identifies the songs, recordings and rightsholders behind each usage line. This reporting workflow then uses that data to produce and track a report for every rightsholder. **Who is this for?** Karaoke, fitness, gaming, background music, digital and other services that license catalogs directly from labels and publishers.