Music is always being played somewhere around the World, whether on the radio, on TV, in restaurants, at cinemas, on CD or at a concert. Wherever music is played in public, STIM can help the music creators and music publishers get paid when their music is used.
Music from around the world
STIM's repertoire not only encompasses music from Swedish composers and publishers, STIM also represents international superstars as well as completely unknown music creators from all parts of the world.
Who pays?
The party using the music in its operation signs a contract with STIM, and is then given a licence entitling them to play music from STIM's repertoire. The amount they pay is determined by how much music they use, and the size and nature of their business. For example, it costs more for a concert promoter than for hairdresser playing background music in their salon.
How does STIM know what is played?
When, for instance, a radio station plays music, it submits information to STIM regarding what it has played. The same thing happens when a band, artist or orchestra performs music live. They submit information about what they have played, when and where it was performed, and who promoted the concert. We then take the money which the radio station, TV station, concert promoter, restaurant or shop sends to STIM and forward it to the songwriters and music publishers whose music has been played.
STIM is a not-for-profit organisation
STIM's regulations do not permit us to make any profit – all money must go to our members, the music creators and their publishers. Collecting the money does, of course, incur some overheads such as staff wages, office costs and other expenses, but we always strive to keep these costs to a minimum.
When is the money distributed?
The royalties are sent out to members four times a year, with the majority of revenue distributed before Christmas and in late June.
Copyright legislation
Copyright legislation states that the people who created the music are entitled to remuneration when it is used. Unfortunately not everyone is happy about paying money to music creators. Sometimes we have to take legal measures, such as filing a lawsuit, to ensure the music creators and their publishers receive their money.
In legal terms, STIM protects the author's financial rights in line with copyright legislation when it comes to public performances and the transfer to the public, i.e. transmission such as the ether and internet transfer of music.
STIM does not work with moral rights
There is also something called moral rights. Moral rights mean, for example, that no one may change the music or lyrics of a song without consent. Moreover, the music may not be used in a context considered offensive. Unfortunately STIM is unable to assist if an author represented by a music publisher has been a victim of this. We only protect the financial rights.
STIM does not protect your music against plagiarism or theft
Registering music with STIM only means that you can get paid when it is played in public or released on CD/DVD or equivalent.
Assessment committee
STIM has an assessment committee whose remit is to listen to songs considered very similar to other songs. The assessment committee does not provide rulings in disputes, but it may express an opinion on the degree of similarity between songs. The music creator(s) may then choose to take further action and begin civil proceedings, either alone or with a music publisher. To take legal action, the music publisher must have power of attorney from the creator/copyright holder.
Read more about protecting your music here