Stim strengthens music creators' freedom of choice and control in AI – introduces a new rights category
AI is rapidly changing how music is created, used and generates value. At the same time, a new international market is emerging in which AI companies want to license music on legal terms. To ensure that Swedish music creators have freedom of choice, control and the opportunity for compensation in the AI market going forward, Stim's members decided to introduce a special rights category for AI.
Ahead of Stim's general meeting, the board presented a proposal to introduce a special rights category for AI. The purpose was to create freedom of choice and control for Stim-affiliated members and an appropriate structure for how Stim-affiliated music can be used in the development of AI, without affecting how Stim represents its creators' rights in other areas. The decision was voted through by the meeting, and means that all creators affiliated with Stim, as of June 1, are covered by the new rights category, in the same way as in Stim's other rights areas, such as live, radio and TV. Those who wish to manage their AI rights differently have the option to exclude the rights category from Stim's administration.
Active consent required – work-by-work
No works will become automatically available for AI licensing; for this, a Stim-affiliated creator must actively approve that a particular work will be included in future AI licenses.
This means that creators will be able to choose between:
- approve specific works for AI licensing,
- decline to approve works but still have their rights monitored by Stim,
- or exclude the AI rights category from Stim in order to manage the rights in another way
If a member does not actively approve any works, no works will be included in AI licenses, while their rights will still be monitored by Stim.
The core of the model is simple:
No works will be able to be included in AI licenses without the creator actively approving it – work by work.
Why is Stim doing this now?
The music industry has previously gone through major technological shifts – from piracy to streaming. Experience shows that functioning licensing models are crucial to ensuring that the value of music reaches the rights holders. AI is now being identified as the next major shift, with the potential to affect the entire music value chain.
Stim sees that more and more AI companies are seeking licensed music and in some cases moving away from previous models trained without permission. By acting early, Stim wants to help establish a market where music is used legally, with clear terms and compensation to creators. Stim's launch of the world's first collective AI license for music in 2025 was an important step in that direction. Introducing a new rights category is therefore a natural next step to enable control and effective administration.
The goal is to create a clear and sustainable structure where you as a music creator can decide if and how your works should be used in AI – while protecting the value of music in a new and rapidly growing market.
