Music in churches and religious denominations
Both the Church of Sweden and the free churches are important parts of Swedish musical life. Music is offered here both in worship services and in the form of concerts organized by the congregation itself and by others.
The congregations pay an annual fee to Stim — money which we distribute to the music creators. In this way the churches contribute to the creation of new music.
Churches
Music reporting
To report music — or to "report a performance" — means that you submit information about which music has been played at your concerts and other music occasions.
How does music reporting work?
- The congregation reports performed musical works for concerts, music worship services and other music events organized by the congregation. Read about the difference between these three categories further down the page. Music at baptisms, weddings and funerals does not need to be reported.
- To report to Stim we recommend that you use the web service available on My pages. First you must apply to become a music reporter. Fill in the requested details for the person or persons (church musicians) who will handle music reporting in your congregation. Under 'Artist to report for' it is sufficient to enter the congregation's name. Stim will then get back to you shortly with your login details.
- A congregation or parish can have several people connected to the web reporting, where each reporter has a personal login.
- You must also report public domain music that has been performed, that is, music whose creators have been dead for at least 70 years. In our web service free works are collected under the title "DP Works" and have work number 2045625. You also enter the play time for these works.
- Feel free to watch our video guide, which shows step by step how to use music reporting via the web.
If you need guidance in the web service you can also use our PDF guide for "report a performance" which in 9 steps describes how it works,
What is the difference between a concert, a worship service and music entertainment?
- Concert- an event where live music, without liturgical elements, is performed publicly before an audience with or without an admission fee.
- Music worship service -an event where live music, with a liturgical element where the liturgy has no connection to the music, is performed publicly before an audience with or without an admission fee.
- Music entertainment -the performance of live music, without liturgical elements, within the congregation's own activities in Sweden such as care services, in a café setting and at lunch concerts.
Additional licenses for the Church of Sweden
The agreement that the Church of Sweden has with Stim covers concerts, music worship services and other music entertainment.
However, for example the recording of worship services is not covered. For such use of the music additional licenses are required.
Recording of a worship service with musical content - CD/DVD
To obtain a license to make a CD or DVD of a recorded worship service with musical content, you fill in a license application.
Record releases
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Contact Customer Servicevia our web form if you have questions regarding the agreement with the Church of Sweden.
Stim has agreements with the following free church denominations:
- Adventistsamfundet
- Equmeniakyrkan
- Evangeliska Frikyrkan
- Frälsningsarmén
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Pingst - free congregations in cooperation
- Svenska Alliansmissionen
The denominations pay an annual amount that covers most music usage.
Equmeniakyrkan
For live music events organized by member congregations with up to 299 members, Equmeniakyrkan pays an annual fixed fee to Stim. The exception is live events with more than 500 attendees. These events are reported and paid for by the respective member congregation. Live music events organized by member congregations with more than 299 members are reported and paid for afterwards by the respective member congregation.
For other music use (CD copying, film screenings, dance, discos, exercise classes, background music in serving) regardless of the number of members in the member congregations, Equmeniakyrkan pays an annual fee to Stim.
Other free church denominations
Other free church denominations also pay centrally for live music events organized by member congregations with up to 299 members. Live music events organized by member congregations with more than 299 members are reported and paid for afterwards by the respective member congregation or centrally by the denomination (the Pentecostal Church). For other music use (CD copying, film screenings, dance, discos, exercise classes, background music in serving) regardless of the number of members in the member congregations, the denominations pay a central annual fee to Stim.
Rentals
A congregation that has rented out its premises for music events must, at Stim's request, provide information about the main organizer and inform them that Stim's permission is required. Remember that the person who rents the premises is responsible for arranging the necessary permits, for example obtaining a music license from Stim.
Additional licenses
The agreement does not cover the recording of worship services or music on congregations' websites. For such use of the music additional licenses are required.
Manuscript works
The accounting and reporting of so-called manuscript works (unpublished works) in worship services ended in 2011 due to a change in the law. However, this does not affect the financial part of the agreements between Stim and the congregations since Stim has never charged for manuscript works.
Record releases
Where does the money go?
Those who write music and lyrics, the rights holders, are entitled under the Copyright Act to compensation when their music is performed publicly. The money that Stim collects is distributed individually to those who write music and lyrics — the music creators.
For questions about your licenses or if you want to sign a new license, get in touch via Stim's web form.