2.1 Introduction

The message design defined in this standard provides a mechanism for Licensees (typically Digital Service Providers) to report to Rights Controllers (typically Music Rights Societies, Music Licensing Companies, Music Publishers and/or Record Companies) Usage, Revenue or Sales from the exploitation of Products based on electronic Releases containing Sound Recordings and/or Music Audio-Visual Recordings which embody Musical Works and/or other Resources.

The Flat File Variant is intended to provide a format for reporting information about the level of usage, revenue or sales generated from the exploitation of Releases and Resources for companies that do not wish to handle XML-formatted sales/usage reports.

This Part defines the architecture of the Flat File Variant of the Digital Sales Reporting Message Suite Standard. Specific Sales Report Messages, for well-defined Profiles, are defined in separate DDEX standards.