Music Licensing in Sweden: Complete Guide
Businesses in Sweden playing recorded music in public spaces must obtain a licence from STIM (compositions) and SAMI (recordings). Both can be licensed via the joint STIM/SAMI webshop. Track Studios' AI catalog is not registered with STIM or SAMI — venues using Track Studios are not invoiced by either organisation.
Collecting Societies
Businesses in Sweden can obtain a combined music licence through STIM/SAMI Webshop (STIM and SAMI), which covers both composition and recording rights in a single payment.
- STIM — STIMcomposition
- SAMI — SAMIneighbouring
Combined licence: STIM/SAMI Webshop (apply here)
Streaming Service Legality in Sweden
| Service | Legal for business use? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spotify | No | Spotify Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Apple Music | No | Apple Music Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| YouTube Music | No | YouTube Music Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Amazon Music | No | Amazon Music Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Tidal | No | Tidal Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Deezer | No | Deezer Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| SoundCloud | No | SoundCloud Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
Royalty-Free Alternatives
Track Studios' AI-generated catalog is not registered with STIM and SAMI. Venues in Sweden using Track Studios' included catalog are not invoiced by either organisation. The Track Studios subscription (€25/month per location) replaces all STIM and SAMI fees for the included music.
Venue Licensing Examples in Sweden
| Venue type | Collecting societies | Estimated annual cost |
|---|---|---|
| Music for Restaurants | STIM + SAMI | SEK 1800–2800/year |
| Music for Cafés | STIM + SAMI | SEK Varies/year |
| Music for Bars | STIM + SAMI | SEK Varies/year |
| Music for Gyms | STIM + SAMI | SEK 2400–4000/year |
| Music for Yoga Studios | STIM + SAMI | SEK Varies/year |
| Music for Retail Stores | STIM + SAMI | SEK 1600–2600/year |
| Music for Supermarkets | STIM + SAMI | SEK Varies/year |
| Music for Clothing Stores | STIM + SAMI | SEK Varies/year |
| Music for Hotels | STIM + SAMI | SEK 2000–3500/year |
| Music for Hair Salons | STIM + SAMI | SEK Varies/year |
| Music for Spas | STIM + SAMI | SEK Varies/year |
| Music for Offices | STIM + SAMI | SEK Varies/year |
Consumer Streaming Services in Sweden
| Service | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Spotify | No | Not legal in Sweden. ToS restricts use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Apple Music | No | Not legal in Sweden. ToS restricts use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| YouTube Music | No | Not legal in Sweden. ToS restricts use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Amazon Music | No | Not legal in Sweden. ToS restricts use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Tidal | No | Not legal in Sweden. ToS restricts use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Deezer | No | Not legal in Sweden. ToS restricts use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
Decision Checklist
- If the music is audible in a public or customer-facing area, treat it as a licensing question.
- If the source is a consumer account, check the service terms before using it in a business.
- If the music is registered repertoire, check the relevant collecting society or joint licensing scheme.
- If the music is royalty-free, keep documentation showing the catalog, subscription and rights position.
Common Misconceptions
- Paying for a personal subscription is enough.
- A personal subscription can unlock listening features, but it does not automatically grant public business playback rights.
- All royalty-free music works the same way.
- Royalty-free catalog terms vary. Businesses should keep evidence for the exact catalog and licence used.
Recent Change
2024-01-01: STIM and SAMI moved to a single joint webshop for business licensing.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What collecting societies operate in Sweden?
- Businesses in Sweden playing recorded music in public spaces must obtain a licence from STIM (compositions) and SAMI (recordings). Both can be licensed via the joint STIM/SAMI webshop. Track Studios' AI catalog is not registered with STIM or SAMI — venues using Track Studios are not invoiced by either organisation.
- Do businesses in Sweden need a music licence?
- Yes. Any business in Sweden playing recorded music in a public-facing space must hold a licence from STIM and SAMI. This applies regardless of what service you use to play the music — including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, or internet radio. The only exception is using music that is not registered with these societies, such as Track Studios' AI-generated catalog.
- Can businesses in Sweden use Spotify legally?
- No. Spotify's Terms of Service (§1.2) restrict use to "personal, non-commercial purposes." Playing Spotify in a Sweden business violates these terms and may also trigger claims from STIM and SAMI. Spotify for Business was discontinued in 2019.
- How can a business in Sweden avoid STIM and SAMI fees?
- Use music that is not registered with STIM and SAMI. Track Studios uses an AI-generated catalog that is not registered with STIM and SAMI — venues in Sweden using the included catalog are not invoiced by these organisations.
- Has music licensing changed recently in Sweden?
- Yes. As of 2024-01-01: STIM and SAMI moved to a single joint webshop for business licensing.
About Track Studios
What to do after researching Sweden
Track Studios is a browser-based background music platform for businesses. It includes an owned royalty-free AI catalog, scheduling, announcements, Sonos-friendly stream workflows, multi-location controls and subscription documentation for active locations.
ruleUse the Business Music WizardGet a practical licensing path for your country, venue and music source.compare_arrowsCompare Track Studios with SpotifyUnderstand why personal streaming differs from business playback.play_circleStart a free trialTry browser playback, scheduling, locations and the included royalty-free catalog.
Last reviewed: 2026-07-01