What does BECS do?
The performers’ union Equity established BECS in 1998 in order to enforce its members’ rights in the UK and collect revenue from the compulsory collective administration of rights in other EU member states. Performers in many European countries are compensated for the use of their audiovisual work via a system of legal rights.
These rights entitle them to remuneration when their work is copied for private use, rented in video shops, retransmitted on cable channels or publicly broadcast. BECS negotiates a share of the revenue generated in this way for British made productions that are exploited in the countries with performers’ rights. BECS has agreements in place with collecting societies (more…)
Join BECS & Download Forms
The relevant BECS forms can be downloaded and returned to our FREEPOST address, which is printed on each form.
Alternatively, you can email a scanned or edited form to becs@equity.org uk
Please follow the links to access the forms. (more…)
Missing Performers
Follow the link below if you think you may be on our missing performers list, or if you are the beneficiary/executor of a deceased performer’s estate.
You may be listed if you have performed in a film, televison and/or radio production that we have collected revenue for, but you have never been a member of Equity or you have not kept your contact details up-to-date with either Equity or BECS. (more…)
Overview
Individual performers find it difficult to access money arising from statutory rights, especially from overseas. BECS negotiates blanket agreements with collecting societies in other European countries where performers are legally entitled to compensation for the use of their film and television work.
BECS maintains a stronger position in order to get the best deal for UK performers by acting on behalf of a large body of artists. We currently have approximately 22,000 members. Membership of BECS is free and completing a registration form is the only way to ensure you receive revenue from all possible sources.
British Equity Collecting Society Limited is a company registered in England No. 3547531. Registered Office: Guild House, Upper St Martin’s Lane, London WC2H 9EG.
British Equity Collecting Society (BECS) is the UK’s only collective management organisation for audiovisual performers. It represents the interests of over 27,000 members in the negotiation and administration of performers’ remuneration throughout the European Union territories. BECS also administers artist payments on behalf of Equity and broadcasting companies.
BECS was set up by Equity in 1998. Since then it has paid out more than £50 million in extra income for performances in British film and television productions. To find out more about Equity and how to join the union, visit the website by clicking on the logo.
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