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Music in Podcasts

Apply for a licence

Apply here for a licence to use music in a free podcasts

Report form
Podcasts are audio digital files and contributions made available on internet. They often use music in the intro or run it in the background. Unless such music is an own creation or in the public domain, you need to obtain permission to use it from the authors, who must be remunerated accordingly. In this context, we distinguish between the production of podcasts and the making available of podcasts.

Production of podcasts

Podcasts produced in Switzerland that use music protected by copyright must be registered with SUISA. The licence fee is charged individually for each podcast episode or globally for an entire podcast series. If you have already acquired the rights for the music (e.g. in the case of commissioned music) or if you did not produce the podcast but had it produced by a business partner abroad, there is no need for the registration with SUISA.

Making available of podcasts

If you embed and publish podcasts on your own website, you are required to register them with SUISA. If you already have a general licence for making music available online, you do not need to pay this fee.

Other rights

When using production music, SUISA may transfer to you not only the copyrights but also the neighbouring rights and the synchronisation rights. You can find further information on this on the page "Production Music"

You should be aware that, depending on the type of podcast, you may have to obtain other rights (e.g. synchronisation rights or re-recording rights). For more information, see “Other rights“. 

How to proceed

We distinguish several different types of podcasts. Fill in the ad hoc form corresponding to your offer and send it to us. We will check your application and then issue you an invoice.

Types of podcasts

1. Music in free podcasts

You regularly produce podcasts which you offer for free. Please report these to us by using the application form.
 

2. Music in podcasts offered for sale

For this licence, please contact us in advance at the following e-mail address: customerservices@suisa.ch

FAQ: Frequently asked questions

  • No, if a podcast is only made available via conventional platforms like Spotify and not on your own website, only the reproduction (production) needs to be licensed. SUISA licenses the making-available of the music directly with the platforms concerned.

  • The minimum fee of CHF 34.20 applies to all the music in all the podcasts produced during a six-month reporting period provided such podcasts contain less than 24 minutes of protected music altogether. If the 24-minute duration is exceeded, a fee of CHF 1.40 per minute of protected music applies.

  • It makes no difference whether or not the podcast is profit-oriented. The music in a podcast must be licensed in any event.

  • No. Indicating the names of the rightholders does not entitle you to use protected music without the requisite licence.

  • No. SUISA only licenses the music in podcasts. If a podcast does not contain any music, it does not have to be registered with SUISA.

  • The production of a podcast must only be licensed once.

    Its making-available online, on the other hand, has to be licensed on an ongoing basis for as long as the podcast is available online. Billing is every six-months.

  • A podcast series can be registered in advance.

  • There are two additional rights to be considered when using music in a podcast:

    1. Synchronisation right
    The synchronisation right is the right to combine a piece of music with another medium, e.g. to add music to a podcast.

    As a rule, this right is managed directly by the publisher or the author of the work, and SUISA cannot issue a licence for synchronisation rights. Consequently, permission must be obtained directly from the relevant publisher or author.

    2. Related rights
    In this context, these rights concern the use of a specific recording – for example, a song from a CD or an MP3 file.

    These rights are generally managed by the producer of the sound recording (sound recording producer, recording company or label). Here again, you must apply directly to the rightholder concerned.

    Depending on the circumstances, Audion GmbH can help. Audion GmbH is an independent agency for music rights; it brokers and licenses selected uses of music recordings.

  • For radio and television broadcasters who offer podcasts of their previously broadcast programmes containing music licensed under Common Tariff S (private broadcasters) or Tariff A (SRG-SSR), the production and making available online on their website is already covered.

    Exception: podcasts where the music takes centre stage, e.g.

    • podcasts focusing specifically on bands or artists,
    • reports on festivals and concerts,
    • music specials, etc..

    Such podcasts must additionally be licensed in accordance with the “podcast” licensing model.

The following might also be of interest to you:

  • Audio and video productions: Production music

    Production music (also referred to as library, archive, mood or stock music) is music from catalogues which various publishers offer for the specific purpose of adding sound to film and sound or audiovisual recordings. 

    Production music

  • Other rights

    For film, video, and even podcast productions, further rights must be obtained in addition to those managed by SUISA. 

    Other rights