In 2024, SUISA was again able to generate (and distribute) more than in the previous year. However, not all areas of exploitation have contributed to this: The budgeted figures for broadcasting rights, compensation claims, performing and broadcasting rights from abroad and multi-territorial online revenues were not achieved, while the budgeted amounts for all other rights groups were exceeded by a welcome extent.
Higher supplemental distribution in favour of rightsholders
The cooperative’s revenues from copyrights increased by +0.3% compared to the previous year, while the total turnover rose by +2.1% thanks to higher secondary income. The group – comprising SUISA Cooperative and its subsidiary Suisa Digital Licensing AG (SUDL) – even increased its turnover by +6% to CHF 209.9 million, breaking the 200 million barrier for the first time.
The Board of Directors approved the management report, consolidated group financial statements and annual accounts for submission to the General Meeting. Furthermore, it concluded to increase the supplemental distribution from 1.75% to 4% on the funds paid out to members, principals and sister societies & organisations in the second half of 2025 and the first half of 2026 (including supplemental distributions) due to the good level of secondary income and the status of settlement liabilities that had been released.
General Meeting
In addition to the recurring statutory business, the 2025 General Meeting also decides on the revision of the compensation regulations for Board members and elects the successor to Johanna Gapany, member of the Council of States, who is stepping down from the Board.
The compensation regulations for members of the Board of Directors provide for the payment of daily allowances for attending meetings. Such a daily allowance is appropriate for ordinary meetings of the Board, as the meetings usually last the whole day and require prior preparation by the members of the Board. Due to the increasing complexity of the business, however, extraordinary, shorter meetings are increasingly on the agenda. A daily flat rate seems too high for these short sessions. However, as the compensation regulations do not yet provide for appropriate compensation for shorter meetings, the Board of Directors has decided to propose to the General Meeting that a corresponding provision be introduced.
Furthermore, a nomination committee convened by the Chairman has been working intensively on the search for a suitable successor to the retiring Board member Johanna Gapany and has proposed the candidature of National Councillor Stefan Müller-Altermatt to the Board for the by-elections. Both the preliminary Committee for Organisation and Communication and the full Board of Directors followed this recommendation in April.
Property in need of renovation
SUISA owns the building at Bellariastrasse 82 in Zurich, where it has its head offices; the property is now around sixty years old. As the premises are now in need of renovation, the Board of Directors considered the question last year whether the property should either be renovated or gainfully converted.
In December 2024, the Board of Directors approved the conversion of the building into a residential building on the recommendation of the preliminary advisory Committee for Finance and Controlling. The next steps are to be prepared with the advice of a construction trust company. In April 2025, the Board approved the contract with the provider recommended by the Executive Committee following an evaluation and the associated costs.
Minimum amount for the distribution of private broadcaster revenues
The distribution from music broadcasts on private radio stations and TV channels is made in accordance with the distribution rules (item 4.2.3) for each station and channel on the basis of the music broadcast in each case (advertising music excluded). For reasons of cost and efficiency, however, the fee paid by a broadcaster must reach a certain minimum level. This amount is determined by the Board of Directors each year.
In 2017, the Board of Directors decided to reduce this minimum amount from CHF 15,000 to CHF 5,000. Thanks to this low threshold, which has been in force since 1 January 2018, the money received by less popular private broadcasters can also be distributed in a targeted manner. The Board of Directors resolutely adhered to this tried-and-tested practice and decided to maintain the low limit of CHF 5,000 in 2026.
Financial statements 2024 of the Pension Fund for Authors and Publishers
The members of the SUISA Board of Directors also serve as trustees of the Pension Fund for Authors and Publishers (SPF). Established in 1941, the purpose of the fund is to support the pension schemes of SUISA members and principals and is financed by a deduction of 7.5% on all settlements of performing and broadcasting rights and remuneration claims in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein. The Pension Board discussed the fund’s (very good) financial situation and approved its annual financial statements for 2024.
