Stim – A Member Organization for Music Creators
STIM, the Swedish Performing Rights Society, is a member organization with over 100,000 affiliated music creators and music publishers. Since 1923, we have worked for strong copyright protection and for those we represent to be compensated when their music is used.
STIM's Core Idea
We work to ensure that our affiliated music creators receive the best possible compensation for their music, regardless of where it is played. The money we receive comes from our customers who pay for a music license – a license that gives them access to an amazing repertoire from around the world. Music that evokes emotions, creates community, and identity. Music that adds value and strengthens our customers’ businesses.
Who can join STIM?
Anyone who has written a song that has been publicly performed or released can join STIM. If you have signed a contract with a music publisher, but your music has not yet been publicly performed, you can also join STIM.
How do you obtain a license and what does it cost?
With STIM's music license, you can create unique and inspiring experiences. In our webshop, you can access music from around the world with just a few clicks. The cost depends on how much music you use and how many people are exposed to the music being played. Read more about how to obtain a license here. (LINK to STIM shop)
How is STIM governed?
STIM is a non-profit member organization for music creators and music publishers. The organization is governed by a board consisting of representatives from the different categories of rights holders that STIM represents, namely members who are actively working within FST – The Swedish Composers Association, Skap – The Swedish Composers and Lyricists Association, or Musikförläggarna, as well as independent members. The board’s chairman is independent.
STIM publishes an annual report, which is available for reading on the web.
Find all of STIM's annual reports and transparency reports here. (Internal LINK)
STIM Promotes Diversity and Regrowth in Swedish Music
A central part of our work is to promote musical diversity and enable regrowth in Swedish music, including through scholarships, support for music projects, and funding for activities that promote copyright. This is a public-interest mission that distinguishes us from other players in the market.
How STIM is financed
STIM has costs associated with managing the financial rights of rights holders, which we finance by making deductions from the money we collect.
Just like any other organization, STIM has expenses. These mainly include costs for staff, office space, and development. Below is an overview of the deductions STIM makes from the revenue to finance the expenses of the organization in order to fulfill its mission.
STIM is a non-profit organization. The deductions STIM makes from the various income areas are based on actual and documented costs for STIM's administration and are designed to ensure that we fulfill our mission effectively and safely – to ensure that creators and publishers receive fair payment when their music is played.
Size of Deductions
Overall, STIM has a cost percentage of 9% (2019). All figures are detailed in our annual report and transparency report.
STIM’s Expenses
STIM's expenses primarily involve salaries, office rent, and administration, but there are also costs directly associated with our core services, which can be divided into three areas:
Collection of Funds
Costs incurred in activities such as market outreach, negotiations, and handling of licensing agreements. Additionally, resources are required for invoicing and payment administration, as well as customer service for our licensees.
Payments
In connection with our payments, costs arise for activities such as music reporting, matching performed works, distributing and paying out compensation, as well as ensuring good service for affiliated creators and publishers.
Strengthening Copyright and Promoting Music
Our mission to strengthen the conditions for music creators through contacts with politics and society, as well as our work to promote musical diversity and regrowth, is associated with costs, such as scholarships for creators.