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Film screenings with live music

Silent films with live accompaniment

Apply here for a licence to accompany silent films with music (available in German, French and Italian only)

Online form (in German)

Film music played live

Apply here for a licence for film screenings with live music

Online form

Are you planning to screen a film and have the film music played live? Or show a silent film accompanied by live music?

To screen the film, you have to apply directly to the film production company for a licence or, in the case of non-commercial screenings, to the MPLC.

In addition, you need a licence from SUISA for the live music.

Licence for film music played live

The licence fees for authors’ rights in film music are governed by the concert tariff (Tariff K). The fee is of maximum 5% of the ticket revenues or costs. This amount is reduced proportionately with the ratio of the duration of the music to the total duration of the film.
For more details, please consult the relevant fact sheet and Tariff K (available in German, French and Italian) below. If background music is run at the venue, you also have to licence that.

Licence for silent movies with live music

The licence fees for authors’ rights in live music are based on Tariff E. The fee for authors’ rights is 1.39%; for neighbouring rights, the fee is between 0.03% and 1.39% of the revenues – depending on the type of event.

If you are screening the film for free, you pay a daily or monthly flat fee. For more details, please consult the Fact Sheet and Tariff E below (available in German, French and Italian). If background music is run at the venue, you also have to licence that.

How to proceed:

Fill in the online licence application form and attach the “LIVE” programme form with your application. You can save the form and finish filling it in later.

After checking your application, SUISA issues you an invoice. The licence is valid as soon as payment is received.

From the payment proceeds, SUISA distributes the corresponding royalties to the entitled composers, lyricists, and publishers.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions

  • Whenever you use music in public, you must apply to SUISA to licence that use.

    Such uses include:

    • company events
    • club events
    • private parties

    You do not need a licence to use music in the private sphere – namely within a small circle of family members and close friends, for example at a birthday party or a wedding.

  • The organisers of an event are responsible for obtaining the licence.

    The organiser is the person or entity that is economically responsible for the music use – for example, the person who concludes the contracts, covers the costs, and collects the revenues.

  • If you perform music protected by copyright or have it performed in public, you need a licence from SUISA.

    Concerts – with or without an admission fee – are regulated by Common Tariff K (CT K). To calculate the licence, SUISA needs the following information:

    • ticket revenue details
    • event-related costs
    • set lists (programmes) of the performing artists

    For forms and other information, see: www.suisa.ch/k

  • As a rule, SUISA bases its royalty calculations on revenues.
    There are exceptions, however, where the calculations are made based on the costs related to the music use:

    • if the revenues cannot be established;
    • if the costs are higher than the revenues, and
      • the customer has not prepared a budget, or
      • if, from the outset, the customer expects to have to cover all or a portion of the costs from their own funds.
    • charity events where the profits go to the needy.