Music license for radio
STIM offers music licenses for all types of radio broadcasts – from public service to commercial radio, community radio, local radio and web radio. For public service and commercial radio, individual agreements are signed, while there are special licenses adapted for community radio and web radio. Whatever the channel, we make sure you get the right license – and that the music creators are paid for their work.
Commercial local radio
If you broadcast on commercial radio – i.e. radio activity carried out for profit – you need to obtain specific licenses from STIM and IFPI/SAMI.
- Use of protected music on FM radio, DAB, or digital platforms
- Both live and pre-recorded music
- License terms and fees are tailored to the scale of your activities
- Factors that affect this: broadcast area, audience size, amount of music, and advertising elements
- You will receive a quote based on your needs
Web radio
Are you thinking about starting a podcast with music or planning to livestream a concert? No matter how you want to use music online, it's important that the music creators get paid when you play their music. Here's how it works.
Whether you run a small online community radio broadcast or a growing web radio channel, STIM offers the right license for your use of music.
Two levels – basic or premium
The choice of license is based on the number of visitors to your website:
- Basic license – for operations with up to 5,000 visitors per month
- Premium license – for operations with more than 5,000 visitors per month
This is included in both licenses
- Music in web radio (linear online broadcasts, not podcasts)
- Music for download (downloads)
- Streamed music (audio streaming without video)
About STIM's online license
This license is designed for operations with limited online music use, which means:
- Maximum 15,000 user sessions per month
- Maximum 5,000 kronor in music-related revenues per month
With STIM's license you can use music in one or more of the areas mentioned above – simply, fairly and in line with copyright law.
With STIM's music license you can use music in your podcast – whether it's a short clip, background music, live music or a track you have permission to play. The license gives you access to a large music catalogue and ensures that songwriters and music publishers receive the compensation they are entitled to.
What does the license cover?
- Music used in spoken segments
- Background music
- Live music in the podcast
- Music you have permission to play from a rights holder
Important to consider
- Master rights: If you use a commercially recorded and released song, you also need a separate agreement with the record label (for so‑called master use).
- Jingle and theme tune: If you want to use music as a jingle, intro or theme melody, you usually need to contact the rights holder directly. This may involve:
- Music publisher
- Record label
- Or directly with the artist, if none of the above exists
With the right license it's easy to do the right thing – and at the same time contribute to a sustainable music scene.
Using music together with video requires the correct license. STIM offers licenses for those who livestream or publish video content online – whether it's a concert, a workout session or a performance.
This is covered by the license
You need a license if you:
- Livestream concerts, festivals, stage performances, webinars or exercise classes online
- Publish videos with music on your website
- Use music in productions where sound and image are combined (synchronization)
Two types of license for streaming
Depending on how you distribute your event, we offer two licenses:
- For free events – when you stream without ticket sales
- For paid events – if you sell tickets or have content behind a paywall
Note: Donations are not considered ticket revenue.
Synchronization – when music and image are combined
Synchronization means that music is used together with moving images. This can, for example, involve:
- A song added in the editing of a video
- Music performed live and filmed
- Music heard in the background during a recording
STIM offers synchronization licenses for smaller productions.
If you have created the music yourself and want to upload it to your private website, you can of course do so without paying a license to STIM or NCB. This applies to both streamed and downloadable music.
Conditions when you do not need a license
For this to be possible, the following conditions must be met:
- The website is your private site
You have full editing and control rights over the site, and it is not connected to any association, organization or company. - You own the rights to the music
You have created the music yourself, either alone or together with co‑composers. If the music is published, the music publisher must be wholly controlled or owned by you (or your co‑creators). - No commercial connection
The website must not be affiliated with record labels, associations or commercial entities.
If these criteria are met you do not need to apply for a license from STIM or NCB. But – if something changes, for example that you start collaborating with a record label or use the site for commercial purposes, you need to obtain a music license in the usual way.
Music in advertising
If the music you publish is used in advertising (for example in a video or on a campaign page), permission is always required from the creator or the music publisher – in addition to the license from STIM.
Read more about music in advertising
Community radio
To broadcast music on community radio, the association needs a collective license from STIM and IFPI/SAMI. The license applies to all broadcasting associations in the locality and covers both live broadcasts and pre‑recorded programs.
- The right to use music in community radio broadcasts, both live and recorded.
- Also applies to music used in the background, jingles or program segments.
- The license does not cover advertising productions – these require a separate license.
- The holder of the broadcasting permit from the Media Authority is responsible for ensuring that the music rights are in place.
- If an association collaborates with an independent production company, it is the association's responsibility that the company has valid permits.
- An additional agreement with STIM and NCB provides the opportunity to record and broadcast programs with music.
The license fee is based on:
- The total time with music in broadcasts (number of minutes per calendar year)
- The number of potential listeners in the broadcast area
Payment is made quarterly in advance, according to §6 b) of STIM's general terms. Current prices and detailed terms can be found here:
Replaces §8 of Stim's General Terms.
The licensee has no obligation to submit music reports to Stim, but may choose to do so on a voluntary basis. If music reporting is carried out, it must be done in the format and contain the information that Stim specifies from time to time.
Music reporting forms the basis for the distribution and payment of remuneration that Stim makes to its rights holders, and it is therefore of utmost importance that the reporting is accurate.
If Stim, due to incorrect or deficient music reporting from the licensee (for example, but not limited to, omission of repertoire, incorrectly named composer/author or incorrect play time), has allocated and paid out too little remuneration or has paid out to the wrong rights holder, the licensee shall pay compensation to Stim corresponding to the remuneration that Stim would have paid to the correct rights holder given correct music reporting, as well as Stim's reasonable administrative costs. This obligation is limited to three years from the date Stim paid out to the rights holder unless the licensee has acted with gross negligence. The compensation shall be paid within 30 days from the issuance of an invoice from Stim.
Stim is not obliged to reclaim remuneration that Stim, based on the music reporting provided to Stim by the licensee, has allocated and paid out to rights holders or to sister societies with which Stim has representation agreements.