Arrangement of works in the public domain
Before you start arranging musical works that are not protected by copyright, it is worth being aware of the legal …
Licence from SUISA
Music in companies: What to bear in mind
Music plays an important role in many businesses. It creates a pleasant atmosphere for customers, guests, and employees, it enhances …
Copyright licence fee for concerts
If bands and event promoters organise a concert together
The event organiser of a concert has to pay the copyright licence fee. How does it affect the legal situation, …
Beny Rehmann’s Evergreens live on
Beny Rehmann, popular Swiss trumpeter, band leader and composer, died last December aged 78. His evergreens such as the “Schiffsfeger-Polka”, …
Performance rights
Direct licensing or collective rights management for concerts?
In recent years, a growing trend in practice towards “direct licensing” in concerts has been observed both in number and …
Invoicing licence fees for background music and TV reception in businesses as of 2019
Businesses that play background music on their premises or show broadcasts on screens are required to pay licence fees in …
Non-theatrical or dramatico-musical
Small rights and grand rights: who does what?
If there is one matter that regularly triggers heated debate, it is the distinction between small rights and grand rights. …
The Artist’s Agreement compared with the Publishing Agreement
The economic producer (a label, for example) finances the production of sound recordings containing performances by p artists with the …
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Swiss ESC entry 2025
“Voyage” – from the SUISA Songwriting Camp to the Eurovision Song Contest
The ESC is taking place on home ground for Switzerland this year – and its song entry is also homegrown. …
Use of music in audiovisual projects
Purportedly “free” music
Many people browse the internet looking for music to use in their audiovisual projects. Sometimes, the music offered is designated …
Eurovision Song Contest: Swiss songwriting camp by Pele Loriano Productions and SUISA a huge success
The Swiss broadcaster SRF announced the six songs that will be in the running for the Swiss entry to the …
SUISA Board of Directors
The board meetings of April 2025
The Board of Directors and its preliminary advisory committees met in April 2025. As usual, the agenda was long and …
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Member portal
Registering for our member portal “My Account” made simple
Thanks to “My Account”, our members have a good overview of their SUISA affairs. Our personalised member portal helps to …
Live public transmission
Public screenings for the European Football Championship: what to consider
Many organisers will once again be holding public screening events for the European Football Championship this year. Whether it’s in …
Why SUISA members should also consider joining SWISSPERFORM
Composers and lyricists who are SUISA members and are also active as artists and/or producers and whose performances are broadcast …
Corporate events
Corporate events with music: what and how much is payable in licence fees?
Christmas dinners, team events and New Years’ cocktail parties – winter is the peak season for corporate events. If music …
Zurich Music Week 2025
Where club culture meets the future
From 4 to 10 August 2025, Zurich Music Week will bring the international electronic music scene together for the third …
The shadow man of dialect rock
He composed many of the hits which made Polo Hofer, in particular, famous. Hanery Amman has passed away at the …
Pascal Bachmann
“I form big cluster chords with string instruments”
On 27 August 2023, the Murten Classics Festival presents four commissioned works by a new generation of young Swiss composers …
“New York forced me to be original”
Basel-based musician Manuel Gagneux has caused quite an international stir with his utterly unusual style mix of his project Zeal …
Social insurances
Are royalties subject to social security (AHV/AVS) contributions?
Do royalties qualify as earnings from self-employment? Swiss AHV/AVS compensation offices follow different practices.