BIEM aims at first to negotiate a standard agreement with representatives of the IFPI fixing the conditions for the use of the repertoire of the societies. In the changing shape of the music market, it works to sustain and grow royalties for creators and strengthen mechanical rights collections worldwide.

Members of BIEM enter into agreements to allow each of them to represent the others' repertoire. In this way, a BIEM society is able to license users for the vast majority of protected works in the world. BIEM's role is also to assist in technical collaboration between its members and to help resolve issues that may arise.