Music online
Would you like to start a service that provides downloadable songs? Do you want to create an app that contains music, start a podcast or publish music on your blog? For the composers to be compensated, you need a license from STIM.
Where does the money go?
With the support of the Copyright act , STIM collects and distributes money individually to those who made the music possible, specifically music creators and their publishers.
Downloads
Downloads are songs that can be downloaded and saved.
Licenses
Basic licence: SEK 350/month for up to 5,000 visits/month and a maximum of 200 downloads/month.
Medium licence: SEK 1,000/month for 5,001-15,000 visits/month and a maximum of 200 downloads/month.
Larger business: Does your business provide more than 200 downloads/month or have over 15,000 visits/month?
If so, Stim’s standard rate for permanent downloads of digital files is the greater of 12% of the price to consumer (excluding VAT) and a minima of 1 SEK per delivered file (such minima to be annually adjusted in line with inflation using the consumer price index). However, to encourage the digital download market Stim is willing to consider ad-hoc applications for a temporary reduction of the standard rate where a service can demonstrate that it contributes to the development of the digital download market. Stim will also consider applications for a reduction of the standard minima rate in relation to various 'bundling' of services and/or musical works. Stim retains at its sole discretion the right to decide on any ad-hoc applications and reserves absolutely its right to apply the standard rate as stated above.
The yearly minima will be reviewed in light of 'cost of living' increases, calculated using the KPI (Konsument Pris Index). As a financial guarantee for the licence, a contracted amount of at least SEK 5,000 must be paid before the service is made available.
Reporting
With the basic and medium packages, you do not need to report which songs have been downloaded. Larger businesses report on a monthly basis which songs have been downloaded, how many times and at what price.
Streaming
Streaming is music in audio format (no video) that isn't meant to be downloaded or saved.
Licenses
Basic licence: SEK 350/month
Maximum of 5,000 visits/month
Maximum of 12,000 streams/month
Medium licence: SEK 1,000/month
5,001-15,000 visits/month.
Maximum of 12,000 streams/month
Larger business: Does your business have over 15,000 visits/month or are there more than 12,000 streams/month? If so the fee is is calculated as a royalty based on the overall revenue from the service. The minimum fee will be calculated based on the number of visits in combination with the amount of music on the website.
Overall revenue refers to all music-related revenue such as membership fees and revenue from advertising and sponsors. Royalty is currently 12% of the overall revenue.
Six percent VAT will be added.
Streaming film and video
By this we mean film/video clips with music that are less than 5 minutes each. Users are able to choose among individual clips, and there should be no possibility of a permanent download.
Licenses
Basic licence: SEK 350/month
Maximum of 5,000 visits/month
Maximum of 5,000 streams/month at a maximum of 5 minutes each
Medium licence: SEK 1,000/month
5,001-15,000 visits/month.
Maximum of 5,000 streams/month at a maximum of 5 minutes each
Larger business: Does your business have over 15,000 visits/month or over 5,000 streams/month at a maximum of 5 minutes each? If so, the fee is calculated as a royalty based on the overall revenue from the service. The minimum fee will be calculated based on the number of visits in combination with the amount of music on the website.
Overall revenue refers to all music-related revenue such as membership fees and revenue from advertising and sponsors. Royalty is currently 12% of the overall revenue. 6% VAT will be added.
Music in advertising
In addition to a STIM licence, you also need specific permission from the publisher or the author if music is used in advertising. Read more about music in advertising.
Synchronisation remuneration
When combining sound and images, a synchronisation fee may be charged if one has not already been paid to enable the relevant film or video to be played on the Internet.
Streaming live concerts
For those of you who want to publish filmed concerts on your website.
Licenses
Basic licence: SEK 350/month for up to 5,000 visits/month and up to 1,000 streams/month at a maximum of 2 hours each.
Medium licence: SEK 1,000/month for 5,001-15,000 visits/month and 1,000 streams/month at a maximum of 2 hours each.
Larger business:Does your business have over 15,000 visits/month or over 1,000 streams/month at a maximum of 2 hours each? If so, the fee is calculated as a royalty based on the overall revenue from the service. The minimum fee will be calculated based on the number of visits in combination with the amount of music on the website.
Overall revenue refers to all music-related revenue such as membership fees and revenue from advertising and sponsors. Royalty is currently 12% of the overall revenue. 6% VAT will be added.
Synchronisation remuneration
When combining sound and images, a synchronisation fee may be charged if one has not already been paid to enable the relevant film or video to be played on the Internet.
Internet radio
Internet radio is radio broadcasted over the internet. The programs can not be downloaded and all hear the same broadcast simultaneously.
Licenses
Basic licence: SEK 350/month for up to 5,000 visits/month and up to 1,000 streams/month at a maximum of 2 hours each.
Medium licence: SEK 1,000/month for 5,001-15,000 visits/month and 1,000 streams/month at a maximum of 2 hours each.
Larger business: Does your business have over 15,000 visits/month or over 1,000 streams/month at a maximum of 2 hours each? If so, the fee is calculated as a royalty based on the overall revenue from the service. The minimum fee will be calculated based on the number of visits in combination with the amount of music on the website.
Overall revenue refers to all music-related revenue such as membership fees and revenue from advertising and sponsors. Royalty is currently 12% of the overall revenue. 6% VAT will be added.
Synchronisation remuneration
When combining sound and images, a synchronisation fee may be charged if one has not already been paid to enable the relevant film or video to be played on the Internet.
Podcast
A podcast is a episodic series of digital broadcasts available for streaming and for downloading.
Licenses
Basic licence: SEK 350/month
Maximum of 5,000 visits/month
Maximum of 1,000 downloads/month at a maximum of 45 minutes each
Medium licence: SEK 1,000/month
5,001-15,000 visits/month.
Maximum of 1,000 downloads/month at a maximum of 45 minutes each
Larger business: Does your business have over 15,000 visits/month or over 1,000 downloads/month at a maximum of 45 minutes each? If so, the fee is calculated as a royalty based on the overall revenue from the service. Royalty is currently 12% of the overall revenue. The minimum fee, however, is SEK 0.70 per musical work included in the podcast.
Overall revenue refers to all music-related revenue such as membership fees and revenue from advertising and sponsors. 6% VAT will be added.
Release your own music online
Anyone who would like to release his or her own music on a personal website may do so without paying a licence fee to STIM/NCB. This applies both to streamed and downloadable music.
The following conditions must be satisfied to obtain a licence free of charge:
- The website must be your own personal website, which means, for example, that you have full editing and disposition rights.
- You must have complete entitlement to the music personally or together with your co-composers. If the music has been published, you must control/own the publishing firm.
- There may not be any ties to associations, record companies or commercial companies on the website.
If the above conditions are satisfied, you do not need to apply for a STIM/NCB Internet licence. Should circumstances change so that one or more of the conditions are no longer satisfied, you must immediately apply for an Internet licence in the usual manner.