Estonian Authors’ Society (EAÜ)

EAÜ (Estonian Authors' Society, or Eesti Autorite Ühing) is the collective management organisation for Estonia, representing 6,890 authors, composers, publishers, and heirs as of December 2024. Founded on October 8, 1991, it administers performing, reproduction, and related rights for musical, artistic, and choreographic works. It is best suited for Estonian music creators who need a domestic society to license their works and collect royalties from radio, television, streaming, public performances, and private copying levies.

How EAÜ Works

EAÜ licenses businesses that use music and other copyrighted works in Estonia, including radio stations, television broadcasters, streaming platforms, concert venues, cinemas, and commercial establishments. It also collects private copying levies (compensation for private copying of copyrighted works), which amounted to 1.54 million euros in 2024.

In 2024, EAÜ collected 10.81 million euros in net licensing fees, including a commission of 1.64 million euros and a private copying levy of 1.54 million euros. The distribution fund totalled 9.66 million euros. EAÜ paid out 7.59 million euros in author fees during the year, with 2.84 million euros going directly to EAÜ members (up 519,000 euros from 2023) and 3.93 million euros to foreign societies.

EAÜ distributes royalties to members twice a year, typically in the second and fourth quarter. Foreign societies are paid quarterly. The organisation has a development plan covering 2025 to 2030 to improve distribution efficiency and expand services.

Membership is free. There is no joining fee or annual fee. Members agree on commission rates at the annual General Meeting. In 2024, 388 new members joined EAÜ, including 344 authors of musical works, 19 authors of artistic works, 21 heirs, 2 publishers, and 2 authors of choreographic works.

EAÜ is a member of both CISAC and GESAC (European Grouping of Societies of Authors and Composers), which connect it to authors in 119 countries. It represents more than 6,000 Estonian copyright holders and 5 million copyright holders worldwide through these networks.

The board consists of seven members, chaired by Karl-Ander Reismann, with members including Virgo Sillamaa, Jaan Jaago, Kristjan Randalu, Sten Šeripov, Ewert Sundja, and Sandra Perens (representing Tier Music Publishing). The board held six meetings in 2024, including a two-day seminar in Vihula.

Real-World Example

An Estonian electronic music producer registers 30 songs with EAÜ. An Estonian radio station plays 12 of those songs in a given quarter, Spotify reports 200,000 streams from Estonian users, and a Tallinn venue holds a blanket license covering live performances. EAÜ collects royalties from all three sources.

The producer receives a distribution twice a year based on the radio airplay logs, streaming usage data, and venue license fees. If the same songs are played on radio in Finland, EAÜ's reciprocal agreement with Teosto (the Finnish CMO) means Teosto collects those royalties and remits them to EAÜ, which then pays the producer in the next distribution cycle.

In 2024, EAÜ collected 959,516 euros from concerts alone. A producer with regular domestic airplay and moderate streaming numbers might earn anywhere from 500 to 5,000 euros annually in performance royalties through EAÜ, depending on the frequency and type of use.

Drawbacks / Things to Consider

Estonia is a small market with a population of approximately 1.4 million, which limits domestic royalty collections. The largest revenue streams come from radio, television, and private copying levies rather than live performances or streaming.

In 2024, concert collections actually decreased from 2023 (from 1.01 million euros to 960,000 euros) because Estonia hosted fewer large-scale concerts compared to 2023, when Depeche Mode and The Weeknd performed. This means live performance royalties can fluctuate significantly year to year.

EAÜ's commission rate was approximately 15.2% of all revenues in 2024 (1.64 million euros on 10.81 million euros). While this is reasonable for a small CMO, it is higher than some larger societies that benefit from economies of scale.

The organisation's website and member portal are functional but limited in scope compared to larger European societies like GEMA or PRS. Some services may require direct contact with EAÜ staff rather than self-service online tools.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you are an Estonian songwriter, composer, or publisher, EAÜ membership is the only practical way to collect performance and mechanical royalties for your works in Estonia and internationally. Membership is free, which removes the upfront cost barrier.

Register every composition with EAÜ as soon as it is commercially released. Include correct split shares and ISRC codes so your works can be matched to usage data. EAÜ processes work registrations through its author portal, where staff confirm and correct registrations.

If your music is played internationally, EAÜ's CISAC and GESAC memberships mean foreign societies collect on your behalf across 119 countries. For non-Estonian artists, your home PRO collects from EAÜ through these same reciprocal agreements when your music is played in Estonia.

Related Resources

• Performing Rights Organizations (PRO) - What a PRO is and how it functions
• Performance Royalties - How performance royalties are generated and collected
• Mechanical Royalties - Understanding the difference between performance and mechanical royalties
• Collective Management Organization (CMO) - How CMOs operate globally
• PRO Comparison Guide - Detailed comparison of PROs worldwide
• EAÜ Official Website - Visit EAÜ for membership and licensing information
• Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to estimate your digital earnings