Nordic Music CMOs Present Joint Principles for Licensing AI

– AI music requires collective licensing in three stages: AI training, providing AI services, and the use of output

The Nordic music sector’s five Collective Management Organisations – Koda (Denmark), STEF (Iceland), STIM (Sweden), TEOSTO (Finland) and TONO (Norway) – have adopted shared principles on the licensing of generative AI technologies. The position outlines clear expectations for how AI services must engage with copyrighted music and the creators behind it.

As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes the landscape of music creation and consumption, the Nordic CMOs stress a key message: AI companies must actively respect creators’ rights, operate transparently, and enter into licensing agreements with rightsholders. The Nordic CMOs have sought to be at the forefront by establishing a common position on licensing music for AI services, with the aim of building a responsible and sustainable creative economy.

“AI services rely on copyrighted music to train and generate new content that competes directly with human-created music,” the CMOs state. “As any other use of copyrighted music, permission must be obtained, and licensing agreements must be in place to ensure fair remuneration for rightsholders.”

>> Read the full statement from tihis link

Licensing must be addressed at all stages of the AI value chain.

The joint position sets out three specific stages in the AI music value chain where licensing is required: 

1. Training AI – The use of copyrighted music to develop AI models, including data collection and dataset creation.
2. Providing Services – Making AI tools available to users, from individuals to enterprises.
3. Use of Output – The use of music generated by AI systems.

Licensing is essential at all these stages to ensure fair remuneration for rightsholders and to uphold the value of human creativity.

The position further calls for the establishment of a presumption rule: if AI companies do not disclose the sources used for training, it must be assumed that copyrighted music has been used—triggering the need for licensing.

Collective management is essential to provide efficient solutions

The CMOs emphasize that a fair and sustainable framework for AI licensing can be ensured by leveraging the expertise and infrastructure of Collective Management Organisations. Collective management enables AI companies to obtain broad rights coverage efficiently through single agreements, ensures fair remuneration for all rightsholders, and makes transparent royalty distribution possible.

With this joint statement, the Nordic CMOs reinforce their commitment to supporting innovation in AI while firmly protecting the sustainability and integrity of creative work. CMOs are currently working on more detailed licensing models based on these principles and stand ready to enter into licensing agreements with AI companies. They encourage all AI companies to proactively engage with rightsholders in order to respect creators’ rights and ensure legal certainty for all parties.

More information:

• KODA: Nicky Valbjørn Trebbien, Head of Legal, tel. +45 50 91 77 12, [email protected]
• STEF: Guðrún Björk Bjarnadóttir, CEO, tel. +354 8630040, [email protected]
• STIM: Lisa Boström, Press & PR Manager, tel. +46(0)76 892 16 72, [email protected]
• TEOSTO: Jenni Kyntölä, Chief Legal Officer, tel. +358 40 700 0270, [email protected]
• TONO: Inger Elise Mey, Director of International Affairs, tel. +47 922 37 982, [email protected]