Music in Stage Performances

For dramatic stage performances, you always need a licence to use music. Theatres and other operators organising such performances apply for a licence to use music either from the publishers of the music or from Teosto. In the case of unpublished music, the licence must be applied from the music authors themselves.

The licence from music publishers and, in the case of unpublished music, from music creators must be applied for and obtained in advance already at the production planning phase.

Grand rights

Grand right works are always administered by the music publisher or, in the case of unpublished music, the music authors themselves, so you must ask them for a licence to use the music.

Criteria for music not specially written for performances in works performed on stage (small rights)

In works performed on stage, the use of music combined from small right works (music not specially written for performances) is also always administered by the publisher or the music author when the music use criteria listed below are met and the publisher or the music author has informed Teosto that they administer these rights themselves. In this case, the licence to use the music must be applied for in advance from the party that administers it.

The criteria have been developed through cooperation among Nordic publishers and the operating model is the same in all Nordic countries.

Both of these criteria must be met:

• The work performed on stage has a distinct plot
• Songs are mainly performed by characters on stage

In addition, at least one of these criteria must be met:

• The work performed on stage is based on a music brand
• The duration of the music exceeds 30 minutes
• The duration of the music exceeds 30% of the total net duration of the work performed on stage
• The musical contains at least eight songs or compositions

Criteria for small rights (music not specially written for performances) in dance theatre works

If a dance theatre work meets the criteria listed below, agreed on the Nordic level, a licence to use small rights works (music not specially written for performances) in it must be applied for in advance from the music publisher or, in the case of unpublished music, from the music author if they have informed Teosto that they administer these rights themselves.

All of the following criteria must be met:

• Uniform choreography has been prepared for the work
• The (combined) duration of the danced parts exceeds 15 minutes
• Dancers perform live on stage. The music may originate from any source, e.g. a recording

If the criteria are not met

If the above-mentioned criteria for music use are not met, the licence to use music not specially written for performances can be obtained from Teosto. Teosto also grants licences for the use of musical works whose domestic publisher or music author does not self-administer their music but has instead authorised Teosto to administer it as well as licences for the use of music owned by the authors themselves (unpublished music).

To play recorded music, you also need a licence from Gramex, which covers the rights of music performers and producers and is sold by Musiikkiluvat.fi.

PLEASE NOTE! The price list applies only to the use of works administered by Teosto. Publishers and those who self-administer their own music decide the price, terms and conditions for the use of their music.

PLEASE NOTE! The price list applies only to the use of works administered by Teosto. Publishers and those who self-administer their own music decide the price, terms and conditions for the use of their music.

You can look for information about the publisher of songs with general internet search engines or by contacting Teosto’s information search service (subject to a charge). The name of the publisher can also be found in the score of the song if it has been published and, for recorded works, in the author information on the album cover.

We can also assist you in finding the correct publisher information:

• send a publisher information query by email to omateosto@teosto.fi, with Kustantajakysely (Publisher query) in the message subject line
• state the title and composer of the work or at least a well-known artist you know to perform the work (the title of the recording is not required)

You can find the contact details of the Finnish Music Publishers Association’s members on the association’s website. The website has a separate list of the Finnish Music Publishers Association’s members who self-administer their music.

Where do I find information about foreign publishers?

Foreign publishers’ contact details are best found on their own websites, which can be found with general internet search engines, for example. You can also ask for contact information from Teosto’s publisher information search service, subject to a charge (see instructions above).

What does “small rights” or “music not specially written for performances” mean?

Small right work and small rights are terms used for music (composition, song, piece of music) that is originally composed for a purpose other than the stage performance in question but which is incorporated in the stage performance.

What does “grand rights” or “grand right work” mean?

Music composed for a stage performance and performed in its stage execution, e.g. music in operas, operettas, ballets and musicals.

What does “music brand”, mentioned in the criteria, mean?

A brand may be related to an artist or a music author (e.g. plays about Abba, the Beatles, John Lennon, Juice Leskinen), but a play about President Urho Kekkonen, for example, does not meet the criteria for a music brand.

The songs used in the play have seven different music publishers. If the criteria are met, should licences be requested from all these music publishers separately?

Yes, if the criteria are met and all seven publishers self-administer the music they own.

How is the publisher’s price for music determined?

The publisher and the theatre agree on pricing.

If I use mechanically reproduced music, i.e. music played from a recording (such as a CD or an MP3 file) for a stage performance, does it also meet the criteria, i.e. is it self-administered?

No, mechanically reproduced music used in works performed on stage does not meet the criteria, i.e. the licences for its use are administered by Teosto and it is enough for you to report the information about the music used in the works to Teosto after the performance seasons.

PLEASE NOTE! The above does not apply to dance works. In dance pieces, music played from a record also falls within the scope of self-administration if the other criteria defined for dance works are met.

If the theatre performance has an orchestra playing live music but the actors do not sing, are the criteria met?

Yes, they are.

If the music is entirely playback music from a recording and the actors do not sing themselves, are the criteria met?

If the actors do not sing at all, the criteria are not met and the music is treated like other mechanically reproduced music, i.e. music played from a recording.

Our theatre has a play consisting mainly of dialogue and music played from a recording is used in the background. What should I do?

Report the music-related information to Teosto after the performance season. Mechanically reproduced music, i.e. music played from a recording, does not meet the criteria.

In which cases should I report music information to Teosto?

If the criteria for music use are not met, report the music-related information of the work performed on stage to Teosto after the performance seasons using the form (in Finnish and Swedish).

If the criteria are met but some of the works are self-administered and some administered by Teosto, report only the non-self-administered works to Teosto.

Report all works of mechanically reproduced music (recorded music) to Teosto.

Do I need other licences for music use than Teosto’s licence?

If you play music from a recording (CD, MP3 or similar), you also need a music licence from Gramex. Gramex administers music licences on behalf of singers, musicians, conductors and phonogram producers and collects and distributes the music royalties they are entitled to.

If you are recording a stage performance for your own use and/or want to sell, donate or distribute the recording on your website, for example, you may also need a separate music reproduction licence from both Teosto and Gramex. For more information, contact the customer services at Teosto and Gramex.

How do you calculate the number of minutes in a dance theatre work if it contains several separate choreographies?

The minutes of music in separate choreographies – such as three mini ballets– are always added together. Only composed works are included in the number of minutes. Ambient music, atmospheric music during transitions or other music between two or more works, for example, are not included in the number of music minutes.

Is sound design included in the number of minutes?

Sound design is included in the number of minutes of music if it is a question of a composed work.

The actors sing one Madonna song in the play. Do I have to get a separate licence for this?

It is not necessary if there is only one song in the play that the actors perform live: the criteria are not met in this case.

What is the procedure for productions produced abroad and performed in Finland?

Licences and music use rights must be determined and taken care of in advance in the country of origin by the original producer.

What is the procedure if a theatre creates a production for municipal kindergartens and performs a play in them?

If the municipality is the organiser of performances taking place in kindergartens, the agreement between the municipalities and Teosto covers music licences. However, the municipal agreement does not cover grand rights or the activities of municipal theatres.

What happens if I have already agreed on a price with the publisher, but we do not use the agreed music in our stage performance or the performance does not take place?

This procedure is also agreed on by the publisher and the theatre when they agree on the terms and conditions for the use of the music.

I would like to give feedback to music publishers regarding music licences for works performed on stage. Who can I contact?

You can contact the Finnish Music Publishers Association’s Executive Director Jari Muikku, jari.muikku(at)musiikkikustantajat.fi.

Music information of stage performances (only in Finnish and Swedish)

You can also find the reporting form by the name Näyttämöteoksen musiikkitiedot in the Lomakkeet -section of our Finnish website.

Live music in stage performances – special terms specific to the method of use

A stage performance refers to a complete dramatic work (such as a play, musical, revue, dance theatre work or ballet) that is performed to an audience present at the performance.

The licence covers the public performance of music in a stage performance organised by the customer. The licence also covers the minor public performance of music as mechanically reproduced background music in direct connection with the stage performance (such as break or interval music) at the performance venue or its lobby.

In addition, the licence covers the transfer of music by the customer prior to and in connection with the above-mentioned public performance of music.

The licence is customer-specific. The royalty bases for the different stages or other venues covered by the licence are given and priced separately.

The licence includes the right to make one recording for the stage performance. Such a recording may include either music played specifically for this purpose or music from a recording owned by the customer. However, the first recording of the work as well as the recording of the work in parts always requires the separate consent of the music author. The making of a recording also requires a licence from the performing artists and, when the recording is used, also a licence from the phonogram producer. Any recording made in this manner may not be used for any other purpose.

The licence is not applicable to performances of a work that is specially written for dramatico-musical works such as an opera, operetta, ballet, play, pantomime or another similar work if the music is performed in its original context (a grand right work).

The licence therefore does not cover concerts, music at shows, music in instructor-led physical exercise, other background music in customer premises, cinema screenings, live music at an event, mechanically reproduced dance music or karaoke at an event or background music in restaurants, cafes or other similar activities or in other contexts or premises.

The licence also does not cover the recording of music or its transmission to the audience, other than cases mentioned above, or the playing of mechanically reproduced music from a jukebox when the audience at the place where the jukebox is located pays a fee to get to hear music of their choice from the jukebox.

Teosto or the music author it represents has the right to move their works that are otherwise covered by the licence to be administered outside this licence when the works in question are included in a music-oriented stage performance (self-administration). This licence cannot be applied to the use of a work that will be or has been moved to self-administration in a music-oriented stage performance. Information about such stage performances and the works that are included in them and will be or have been moved to self-administration is available from Teosto.

The fee payable for the licence is specified according to the price list for music in stage performances on the basis of the total duration of each of the customer’s stage performance performed during the performance season, the duration of the works included in each stage performance, the number of seats, the proceeds from ticket sales or any other royalty indicated by Teosto to the customer. The customer must inform Teosto of the above-mentioned royalty bases and changes in them.

Teosto’s General Terms and Conditions

If music is played also or only from a recording, a licence from Gramex, which represents singers, musicians and conductors, i.e. music performers and music producers (usually a record company), is also required.

Gramex licences are sold and invoiced by Gramex’s and Teosto’s joint venture Musiikkiluvat.fi.

Contact details of the Finnish Music Publishers Association’s members

Other publishers’ details

Tamsong Music Ay
Seppo Tammilehto
seppo(at)tammilehto.org

Syrene Music Oy
Jukka Linkola
jukka.linkola(at)syrenemusic.fi

Soft Music Oy
Veepee Lehto
Talvitie 72, 20610 Turku
tel. 0400 529 349
veepee.lehto(at)softmusic.inet.fi
gplehto(at)gmail.com

Music authors who grant music licences themselves

Harri Mommo
harri.mommo(at)gmail.com

Laura Naukkarinen
lauranau(at)yahoo.co.uk

Pekka Siistonen
p.siistonen(at)luukku.com

Petra Vehviläinen
petralotti(at)gmail.com

For the contact details of other music authors who may self-administer their rights, contact our customer service.