Sweden Launches First AI Music Training Licence to Protect Songwriters

TL;DR

• Sweden has launched an AI music licence to protect songwriters.
• The model will also guarantee royalties for songwriters and composers.

Sweden's STIM Launches an AI Music License

Sweden’s leading music rights body, STIM, has unveiled a new licence designed to let artificial intelligence companies legally use copyrighted music for model training while guaranteeing royalties for songwriters and composers.

The initiative, announced on Tuesday, comes amid growing legal disputes between creative professionals and AI firms accused of exploiting copyrighted works without permission or payment. STIM, which represents over 100,000 songwriters, composers, and publishers, said the licence provides both legal clarity for AI developers and fair compensation for creators.

“AI is reshaping industries, but human creativity must remain protected,” said Lina Heyman, STIM’s acting CEO. “This is more than a commercial framework—it’s a blueprint for fair compensation and legal certainty.”

Industry groups have warned that unchecked AI use could slash creators’ earnings. The International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) estimates that music creators’ income could decline by as much as 24% by 2028. At the same time, the global market for AI-generated music could grow to nearly $17 billion annually.

Sweden has a history of setting industry standards through platforms like Spotify and TikTok. The new licence also mandates tracking technology to monitor AI-generated content, ensuring transparency and proper royalty distribution.

Stockholm-based startup Songfox is the first to adopt the system, offering users the ability to generate AI-created songs and covers within a fully licensed and legal framework.