Tremendous year for the Swedish music industry – record payouts to music makers in 2022
As Stim celebrates its centenary year, it does so with a record result. In 2022, Stim collected SEK 2.7 billion in royalty revenue, an increase of 550 million from the previous year. Payouts to songwriters, composers and publishers totaled SEK 2.2 billion, also a record figure.
“2022 has been a fantastic year in terms of results, and we’re really proud to be able to pay out such a large sum – with a development that also promises of great things for the next 100 years. As well as the incredible music that our affiliates create, this is also the result of all the hard work going into identifying royalties from all over the world. Further, a lot of energy has gone into streamlining payment processes as well as negotiating new, successful agreements with major digital platforms.” says Casper Bjørner, CEO of Stim.
100 years of creating value
Since 1923, Stim has focused on two main groups; on the one hand the music makers affiliated to Stim, and on the other the music listeners who pay for the music. The ecosystem which these combined parties help create between them – with music copyright at its heart – is essential for music making to continue to thrive and survive. Right from the start, it has been Stim’s mission to allow this ecosystem to flow as smoothly and efficiently as possible. The fact that 100 years later Stim can pay out a record sum of SEK 2.2 billion to its affiliates proves the strength of the collective management model.
Talent for export
One explanation behind the successful results is the export of Swedish music, which continues to increase. Stim’s annual report shows that revenues received from copyright societies in other countries increased by 21% to SEK 869 million, with a much quicker recovery from the pandemic than many had expected.
2022 also saw a 47% increase in revenue from international music services – partly due to the success of collecting retroactive royalties from previous years. Revenues include platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, Instagram and YouTube. Stim was also able to make its first payments for music played on TikTok in 2022 – one of the first copyright societies in the world to do so.
Sweden bounces back
The live music market recovered strongly during the year, despite some pandemic restrictions during the first quarter. Revenues from concerts and festivals increased by 213% to SEK 117 million, which is on a par with pre-pandemic figures. However, the ongoing trend of smaller and medium-sized concert halls and venues disappearing poses a risk of the market being significantly redrawn in the future, at the expense of diversity and inclusivity.
Income from hotels, restaurants, shops and clubs also showed an upward trend. Stim collected SEK 201 million over the year from the background music market, an increase of 28%.
Stronger rights
In November 2022, the Swedish Parliament voted for a new copyright law based on the EU Copyright Directive. Among other things, it places a greater responsibility on social media platforms for the copyrighted material that users upload. Stim has been advocating for this law for almost 10 years, which will give music creators a stronger hand in negotiations over the value of music.
Diversity and development
In 2022 Stim distributed SEK 4 million in grants to 149 music and text creators, of whom 52% were women. A total of SEK 51 million was allocated to Stim’s music promotion mission to ensure regrowth and diversity in music.
Stim welcomed 3,567 new music creators and publishers over the year, and now has a total of 102,238 affiliates. In 2022, money was distributed to over 2.8 million works and close to 478,000 music creators and publishers from all over the world.
Top 10 most played songs in 2022 registrered with Stim
Blinding lights - 46993357
Text and music: Max Martin/Abel Tesfaye/Jason Quenneville/Ahmad Balshe/Thomas Holter
MXM Music AB
Songs of Wolf Cousins
Warner/Chappell Music Publishing AB
Universal/MCA Music Scandinavia AB
Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd
Save your tears - 48558461
Text and music: Max Martin/Oscar Holter/Abel Tesfaye/Ahmad Balshe/Jason Quenneville
Warner/Chappell Music Scandinavia AB
Universal/MCA Music Scandinavia AB
MXM Music AB
Songs of Wolf Cousins
Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd
Believer - 36006340
Text and music: Robin Fredriksson/Mattias Larsson/Justin Tranter/Daniel Sermon/Daniel
Reynolds/Benjamin McKee/Daniel Platzman
Ma-Jay Publishing
Wolf Cousins
Warner/Chappell Music Scandinavia AB
Universal/MCA Music Scandinavia AB
Take My Breath - 56009934
Text and music: Max Martin/Oscar Holter/Abel Tesfaye/Ahmad Balshe
Warner/Chappell Music Scandinavia AB
Songs of Wolf Cousins
MXM Music AB
Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd
Arcade – 42663805
Text and music: Joel Sjöö/Duncan De Moor/Wouter Hardy/William Knox
Music and Words Stockholm Aktiebolag
SONY/ATV Music Publishing Scandinavia KB
GL Music A/S
Lovefool – 2413859
Text and music: Peter Svensson/Nina Persson
Stockholm Songs
I Want it That Way – 1846953
Text and music: Andreas Carlsson/Max Martin
Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd
MXM Music AB
Can’t stop the feeling – 32281712
Text and music: Justin Timberlake/Max Martin/Shellback
MXM Music AB
Universal/MCA Music Scandinavia AB
Universal Music Publishing MGB Scandinavia AB
Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd
Diamonds – 50618894
Text and music: Shellback/Oscar Görres/Samuel Smith
MXM Music AB
Songs of Wolf Cousins
SONY/ATV Music Publishing Scandinavia KB
EMI Music Publishing Scandinavia AB
Contact:
Eric Aronson
Press manager, Stim
eric.aronson@stim.se
+46 (0)709 75 11 11
Hornsgatan 103
104 62 Stockholm, Sweden
About Stim:
Stim is a copyright organization with 100,000 affiliated music makers and music publishers. Our objective is a strong copyright legislation to ensure that those who we represent are being paid when their music is played. Stim is a non-profit organization with an interest in the sustainability and diversity of Swedish music life, which distinguishes us from other more market oriented organizations. A license with Stim provides access to a world-class repertoire – music that brings feelings, creates identity and togetherness.