Apply for a licence

Apply here for a licence to use music at town fairs and fireworks

Are you organising a town fair or fireworks with music? We will issue you a licence for the music based on Common Tariff Hb.

Are you organising a town fair or fireworks with music? We will issue you a licence for the music based on Common Tariff Hb. 

If you play commercially available sound recordings (CDs, MP3s, Streaming, etc.), we will charge you a fee on behalf of SWISSPERFORM for the neighbouring rights of the performing artists and producers.

Licences

The licence fees generally represent a percentage of ticket revenues. For small events (admission price under CHF 17, and a location capacity of up to 400 persons), a flat rate applies. If you play commercially available sound recordings (CDs, MP3s etc.), we will charge you a fee on behalf of SWISSPERFORM for the neighbouring rights of the performing artists and producers.

If no revenues are generated or the revenues do not cover costs, the fee is based on the costs of the music use (artists’ fees, cost of travel and accommodation for the musicians, rental cost for instruments, PA system and the venue). For more details, please consult the relevant fact sheet and the Tariff.

Reductions for contract customers

If you conclude a contract with SUISA covering your events, you can claim reductions of up to 15% provided you comply with the contractual terms and conditions.


How to proceed:

Send us the duly completed questionnaire together with your list of works. We will then issue the licence and invoice. Once your payment is received, we distribute the remuneration to the beneficiary composers, lyricists, and publishers.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions

  • When SUISA receives the programme list, it will as a rule distribute the money to the authors of the listed works. If SUISA does not request the programme to avoid excessive costs, it will distribute royalties on a «lump sum» basis.  Entertainment events with recorded music are always settled based on a statistical sampling method (hit boxes). 

  • Copyright law applies a very restrictive definition of the term "private". Under the Copyright Act, private events are birthdays, weddings and similar parties which take place in a close circle of family and friends. Events organised by clubs or associations do not qualify as private events and must  therefore pay licence fees for the use of music.

  • As a rule, the organisers of an event with music are responsible for paying the copyright remuneration. If you organise an event, then you are responsible for the payment.