Komponistrettigheder i Danmark

KODA (Komponistrettigheder i Danmark) is Denmark's collective management organization for music creators, founded in 1926 and headquartered in Copenhagen. It represents songwriters, composers, and music publishers, managing the public performance, broadcasting, streaming, and live performance rights of over 38 million musical works. KODA serves approximately 40,000 license customers including radio and TV stations, streaming services, venues, and retail businesses.

How KODA Works

KODA issues blanket licenses to businesses that play music publicly in Denmark. Licensees include radio stations, television networks, streaming platforms, concert venues, restaurants, retail stores, gyms, and any commercial establishment that uses music. A KODA license grants access to over 38 million songs from Danish and international creators.

KODA distributes royalties to members every month except July. Payment timelines vary by source: radio and national television royalties are paid 2 to 3 months after performance, streaming and download royalties after 6 months, concert royalties after 2 to 6 months, and international royalties approximately 1 year after the music is used abroad.

In 2025, KODA achieved total revenue exceeding EUR 188 million (over 1.4 billion DKK), with nearly EUR 169 million (approximately 1.3 billion DKK) distributed to rightsholders in Denmark and abroad. This represented EUR 4.5 million (34 million DKK) more distributed to members than in 2024.

Growth was driven primarily by streaming and live music. Rising subscriber numbers and higher subscription prices across music streaming platforms supported revenue growth. A similar pattern was seen in audiovisual streaming services. 2025 was also a strong year for live music in Denmark, with KODA's concert revenue exceeding EUR 15 million (120 million DKK) for the first time.

KODA represents all rights holders equally, regardless of voting rights, membership in a composer's association, or country of origin. Distribution principles are approved by members at KODA's annual general meeting. Members can choose to be paid monthly or quarterly, with payments requiring a minimum threshold of 100 DKK.

In November 2025, KODA filed a lawsuit against the US-based AI music platform Suno for training its generative AI models on Danish music without permission or payment. A joint report by KODA and IFPI projects that the Danish music industry could face a 28% revenue decline by 2030 if current generative AI trends continue. CEO Gorm Arildsen has warned that tech giants increasingly control infrastructure, revenue, and content without adequate compensation flowing back to creators.

KODA's 2026 distribution dates are scheduled across 11 months, from January 22 through December 3.

Real-World Example

A Danish songwriter registers 12 songs with KODA. DR (Denmark's national broadcaster) plays 6 of those songs on radio, Spotify reports 800,000 streams from Danish users, and a Copenhagen venue hosts a concert where the songwriter performs 8 songs from the set list.

KODA collects royalties from all three sources. Radio royalties are paid 2 to 3 months after broadcast based on minute values. Streaming royalties are paid 6 months after the streams occur, based on stream counts. Concert royalties are paid 2 to 6 months after the performance, based on attendance and ticket prices.

If the same songs are played on streaming platforms in the United States, KODA's reciprocal agreement with ASCAP means ASCAP collects those royalties and remits them to KODA, which distributes them to the songwriter approximately one year after the international performance.

With EUR 169 million distributed in 2025, a Danish songwriter with 12 songs receiving regular radio airplay and moderate streaming activity might earn anywhere from 5,000 DKK to 150,000 DKK or more annually, depending on the scale of usage and their registered share of the works.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you are a Danish songwriter, composer, or publisher, KODA is your primary domestic option for collecting performance royalties. Without KODA membership, you forfeit royalties from radio, television, streaming, live concerts, and businesses that play your music in Denmark.

Register every composition with KODA as soon as it is commercially released. Unregistered works earn zero royalties, even if they accumulate hundreds of thousands of streams. Submit accurate metadata including ISRC codes, ISWC numbers, and split sheets. KODA's monthly distribution schedule (11 payments per year) means you receive royalties faster than with many PROs that distribute quarterly.

Denmark has a strong live music scene, and KODA's concert revenue exceeded EUR 15 million in 2025. If you perform live, submit set lists to KODA to collect live performance royalties. The 2 to 6 month payment timeline for concerts is relatively fast compared to international standards.

KODA's CISAC membership and reciprocal agreements mean your music earns royalties internationally. Danish music exports, including pop, electronic, and alternative genres, have global reach. International royalties take approximately one year to flow back, so plan your finances accordingly.

KODA's lawsuit against Suno AI and its advocacy for creator protections against generative AI directly affect your future income. Support these efforts by staying informed about AI policy developments and ensuring your works are properly registered so unauthorized use can be detected.

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 - How mechanical royalties differ from performance royalties
• Blanket License - The licensing model used by KODA
• Collective Management Organization (CMO) - How CMOs operate globally
• KODA Official Website - Visit KODA for membership and licensing information
• Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to estimate your digital earnings