STEF (Iceland)

STEF (Samband Tonskalda og Eigenda Flutningsrettar) is the Composers' Rights Society of Iceland, a non-profit collective management organization founded on January 31, 1948, by composer Jon Leifs. It administers Icelandic and international music copyrights for songwriters, composers, lyricists, and publishers whose works are performed publicly in Iceland. STEF represents approximately 6,700 registered creators (about 2,500 active) and operates from its offices at Laufasvegur 40 in Reykjavik, where it has been based since 1968.

How STEF Works

STEF licenses the public performance, broadcasting, streaming, and digital use of musical works in Iceland. It collects royalties from radio stations, television networks, streaming platforms, concert venues, restaurants, retail stores, cinemas, and any business that plays music publicly. Collected fees are distributed to rights holders based on usage data from broadcast logs, streaming reports, concert set lists, and venue reporting.

STEF operates under a system of extensive collective licensing authorized by Icelandic copyright law. This means STEF is authorized to collect royalties for the performance of all music protected by copyright, regardless of whether the creator is a STEF member. STEF is obligated to allocate collected royalties to all rights holders it can identify, even non-members. This ensures that foreign rights holders whose works are performed in Iceland also receive payment.

Membership is free and open to all authors and publishers. STEF is entirely owned and governed by its members as a non-governmental organization. The highest governance body is the Representative Council, consisting of 21 members. Seven are elected in a general election, while the remaining 14 are nominated by STEF's two affiliated organizations: the Icelandic Society of Authors and Composers (FTT) and the Society of Icelandic Composers (TI). The Representative Council elects three members of the Board of Directors, with the other four nominated by the affiliated societies.

STEF employs 11 people, of whom three are part-time. The organization has been a CISAC member since January 1, 1950, and is also a member of the Nordic Copyright Bureau (NCB), which has collection agreements with societies across Europe, North and South America, and parts of Asia.

In 2025, STEF, alongside Teosto (Finland) and TONO (Norway), joined ICE Core, expanding the copyright services platform operated by ICE Services. This move improves STEF's ability to manage multi-territory online licensing and royalty processing for its members' catalogs.

STEF's annual revenue is approximately $10.6 million (2025). The organization operates three internal societies: ISAC (pop, jazz, and related genres), the Icelandic Composers Society (classical), and a non-attached group that is the largest within STEF.

Real-World Example

An Icelandic songwriter joins STEF for free and registers 12 songs. RUV (Iceland's national broadcaster) plays 6 of those songs on radio in a given quarter, Spotify reports 80,000 streams of 8 songs, and a Reykjavik concert venue holds a STEF license for a live performance. STEF collects royalties from all three sources.

The songwriter receives a distribution based on the radio logs, streaming data, and the venue's license fee. If the same songs are played on radio in Sweden, STEF's reciprocal agreement with STIM means STIM collects those royalties and remits them to STEF, which distributes them to the songwriter.

Because STEF operates extensive collective licensing, even non-member Icelandic composers whose works are performed publicly will have royalties collected on their behalf. If STEF can identify the rights holder, the royalties are held and distributed. This is broader than the system in many countries where PROs only collect for registered members.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you are an Icelandic songwriter, composer, or lyricist, STEF membership is free and provides the only practical way to collect performance royalties when your music is played publicly in Iceland. The lack of a membership fee removes any financial barrier to joining.

Register every composition with STEF before commercial release. Even though STEF's extensive collective licensing system collects royalties for non-members too, you must be a registered member to receive payouts. Unregistered works may have royalties collected but not distributed to you.

STEF's small size (11 employees, 6,700 registered creators) means you are likely to receive more personalized service than at larger European PROs. The trade-off is a smaller total royalty pool, since Iceland's population and market size are much smaller than those of Sweden, Germany, or the UK.

STEF's membership in NCB and its reciprocal agreements with over 100 sister societies worldwide mean your royalties flow back to you when your music is played internationally. The 2025 move to ICE Core alongside Teosto and TONO improves STEF's online royalty processing capabilities, which is particularly relevant for Icelandic artists whose music streams on global platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.

Membership and Fees

STEF membership is free and open to all authors and publishers. There is no admission fee and no annual dues. The lack of a membership fee removes any financial barrier to joining.

How to Join

1. Complete the membership application form on STEF's website.
2. Register your works with STEF, including ISRC codes and ISWC numbers.
3. STEF processes the application and confirms membership.
4. Submit accurate metadata so STEF can match performances to your works.

STEF is entirely owned and governed by its members as a non-governmental organization. The highest governance body is the Representative Council, consisting of 21 members. Seven are elected in a general election, while the remaining 14 are nominated by STEF's two affiliated organizations: the Icelandic Society of Authors and Composers (FTT) and the Society of Icelandic Composers (TI).

Overhead Rate

STEF calculates administrative expenses at three different rates depending on the income source:

• 10% for collected performance income (domestic radio, television, concerts, background music)
• 3% for income from foreign sister societies
• 3% for income from international streaming services

Operating expenses and an approved contribution to the Culture Fund of STEF are deducted from collected fees before distribution. The remaining amount is distributed to rights holders retroactively, based on the performance of their works during the year in which the fees accrue.

STEF's 10% administrative rate for domestic performance income is competitive compared to larger European PROs. The lower 3% rate for foreign and streaming income reflects the lower processing cost of funds received from sister societies and digital platforms.

Royalty Distribution Schedule

STEF makes 12 distributions per year to its members. The 2026 distribution schedule includes:

• March 12: ICE streaming distribution
• March 19: Foreign distribution
• May 14: Concert distribution (covering performances from September 1 to February 28)
• June 10: Midsummer distribution and ICE streaming distribution
• June: NCB distribution (physical sales and streaming)
• June 18: Foreign distribution
• September 10: Foreign distribution and ICE streaming distribution
• November 12: Concert distribution (covering performances from March 1 to August 31) and foreign distribution and ICE streaming distribution

Additional distributions occur throughout the year:

• Domestic performance distributions: 2 per year
• Foreign performance distributions: 4 per year
• NCB distributions: 2 per year (physical sales and streaming)
• NMP streaming distributions: 4 per year
• Annual correction distribution in March for registration errors

Concert set list deadlines are March 20 for the May distribution and September 20 for the November distribution.

Reciprocal Agreements

STEF has representation agreements with 48 sister societies worldwide. The organization has been a CISAC member since January 1, 1950. STEF is also a member of the Nordic Copyright Bureau (NCB), which has collection agreements with societies across Europe, North and South America, and parts of Asia.

STEF has a special arrangement with STIM in Sweden. Everything STEF collects belonging to repertoire by foreign right holders is distributed through STIM. This arrangement leverages STIM's larger administrative infrastructure to process foreign repertoire efficiently.

In 2025, STEF joined ICE Core alongside Teosto (Finland) and TONO (Norway). This move improved STEF's ability to manage multi-territory online licensing and royalty processing for its members' catalogs. ICE Services operates the copyright services platform that handles online licensing for participating societies.

Notable Members

STEF was founded on January 31, 1948, by composer Jon Leifs, one of Iceland's most significant classical composers. Leifs was a pioneering figure in Icelandic music who sought to establish a collective rights organization for Icelandic creators.

STEF represents approximately 6,700 registered creators (about 2,500 active) and disburses royalties to over 2,000 Icelandic rights holders each year. The organization operates three internal societies:

• ISAC: Represents pop, jazz, and related genre composers
• Icelandic Composers Society: Represents classical music composers
• Non-attached group: The largest group within STEF, representing creators not affiliated with the other two societies

STEF's membership includes composers and songwriters across Icelandic music, from contemporary pop and electronic artists to classical and film composers. The small membership base (6,700 registered creators) means STEF can provide more personalized service than larger European PROs. The trade-off is a smaller total royalty pool, since Iceland's population of approximately 390,000 generates less performance revenue than larger markets.

STEF vs Other Major PROs

The table below compares STEF against other Nordic PROs and small European PROs.

STEF's 10% administrative rate for domestic performance income is lower than KODA's 10.7% and Teosto's 13.2%. The free membership and 12 distributions per year are notable advantages for Icelandic creators.

STEF's small size (11 employees, 6,700 registered creators) means a smaller total royalty pool compared to larger Nordic PROs. Iceland's population of approximately 390,000 generates less performance revenue than Denmark (5.9 million), Norway (5.5 million), or Sweden (10.5 million). However, STEF's 12 annual distributions provide frequent payouts for members.

Video Guides

Similar PROs

• KODA - Denmark's performing rights organization with monthly distribution
• TONO - Norway's performing rights organization
• STIM - Sweden's performing rights organization (processes STEF's foreign repertoire)
• Teosto - Finland's performing rights organization (ICE Core partner)
• NCB - Nordic mechanical rights bureau (STEF is a co-owner)
• PRS for Music - United Kingdom's performing rights organization
• GEMA - Germany's performing rights organization

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 STEF
• Collective Management Organization (CMO) - How CMOs operate globally
• STEF Official Website - Visit STEF for membership and licensing information
• Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to estimate your digital earnings