Skip to content

SUISA settlement dates 2017 – an overview

SUISA settlement dates 2017 – an overview
During financial year 2016, 15,106 authors and 1,373 publishers received one or several settlements from SUISA.
Photo: Manu Leuenberger
Text by Manu Leuenberger
SUISA members whose works are performed, broadcast, reproduced or used online a lot can look forward to receiving remuneration at least four times per year for their work on lyrics or compositions or their publishing activities. In 2017, SUISA will continue with its quarterly distributions that it had successfully introduced previously. Minor modifications serve the purpose of distributing the income swiftly and cost-effectively.

SUISA payments are a “bonus in June” for Sophie Burande and Léonard Gogniat of Carrousel, as mentioned in an interview, and “a recognition of the work involved in writing lyrics and composing music”. In another conversation with us, Camilla Sparksss alias Barbara Lehnhoff said that she considered SUISA settlements as a helpful and “lovely Christmas present each year”.

Whether Christmas present or “summer bonus”: The points in time where SUISA members can look forward to receiving their copyright royalties are connected to the SUISA settlement dates. Members who are due royalties on the basis of SUISA’s distribution rules, receive a payment on these dates.

The rhythm of payments to authors and publishers had been increased a while ago: From 2015 onwards, SUISA introduced quarterly settlements. As a consequence, the collected remuneration will be passed on to rights holders four times per year.

Quarterly distribution of collections to authors and publishers

In 2017, SUISA will continue with its quarterly distributions that it had successfully introduced previously. There are only minor modifications compared to the previous year. These few improvements are another step in the direction of SUISA’s goal to pay out the remuneration as quickly and cost-effectively as possible.

The distribution category SRG TV is paid out more quickly: Previously, the distribution of collections from this category took place twice a year. From 2017 onwards, the relevant remuneration will be paid out four times per year in the course of the quarterly settlements. SRG is the biggest licensee, or customer, of SUISA. As a consequence, the remuneration amounts in category SRG TV that are now paid out more quickly to authors and publishers of the broadcast music are relatively high.

From 2017 onwards, advertising window settlements will no longer be run separately but as part of the 3rd quarterly payment in mid-September. The integration of this supplementary settlement into the quarterly distribution is a simplification of the handling process and thus saves costs.

Overview of SUISA’s 2017 settlements calendar

Settlement Date
Quarterly settlement 2017-1 15/03/2017
Domestic performing rights, tariffs: D, K, Z (3rd quarter 2016)
Domestic broadcasting rights, tariff: A (SRG Radio 3rd quarter 2016)
Reproduction rights, tariffs: PA, PI, PN, VI, VN (3rd quarter 2016)
Reproduction rights online (Downloads & Streaming)
Supplementary settlements
Adjustments 2017, 1st settlement End of March
Settlements from abroad: Performing, broadcasting and reproduction rights 2017, 1st settlement End of May
Quarterly settlement 2017-2 15/06/2017
Domestic performing rights, tariffs: B, C, D, E, H, Hb, HV, K, Z (2016)
Domestic broadcasting rights, tariff: A (SRG Radio 4th quarter 2016)
Domestic broadcasting rights, tariff: A (SRG TV, 2nd semester 2016)
Domestic broadcasting rights, tariff: A (SRG commercials 2016)
Domestic broadcasting rights, tariffs: S, Y (2016)
Reproduction rights, tariffs: PA, PI, PN, VI, VN (4th quarter 2016)
Reproduction rights, central licensing (2nd semester 2016)
Reproduction rights, online (Downloads & Streaming)
Supplementary settlements
Publishers’ pension benefits Beginning of July
Authors’ pension benefits Mid-July
Quarterly settlement 2017-3 15/09/2017
Domestic performing rights, tariffs: D, K, Z (1st quarter 2017)
Domestic broadcasting rights, tariff: A (SRG Radio & TV, 1st quarter 2017)
Advertising windows (2015)
Reproduction rights, tariffs: PA, PI, PN, VI, VN (1st quarter 2017)
Reproduction rights, online (Downloads & Streaming)
Blank media levy (CT 4), settlement 2017
Sub-publisher shares cable networks, settlement 2017
Supplementary settlements
Adjustments 2017, 2nd settlement End of September
Re-recording rights settlement, 2017 End of October
Settlements from abroad: Performing, broadcasting and reproduction rights 2017, 2nd settlement End of November
Quarterly settlement 2017-4 15/12/2017
Domestic performing rights, tariffs: D, K, Z (2nd quarter 2017)
Domestic broadcasting rights, tariff: A (SRG Radio & TV, 2nd quarter)
Reproduction rights, tariffs: PA, PI, PN, VI, VN (2nd quarter 2017)
Reproduction rights, central licensing (1st semester 2017)
Reproduction rights, online (Downloads & Streaming)

Further information is available on the SUISA website in the form of explanations of the SUISA settlement and a list of the private broadcasters included in the settlements.

Leave a Reply

All comments will be moderated. This may take some time and we reserve the right not to publish comments that contradict the conditions of use.

Your email address will not be published.