Suisa annual result

In 2020, income from copyrights in Switzerland and abroad amounted to CHF 144.1 million. This is CHF 16.8 million or 10.5% less than in the previous year (CHF 160.9 million). Accordingly, composers, lyricists and publishers of music will receive less money from copyrights: CHF 120.4 million can be distributed to rightholders in 2021 - almost CHF 15 million less than last year.

As expected, revenue fell primarily in the area of performance rights: while revenue in this area amounted to CHF 52.1 million in 2019, it was CHF 34.4 million in 2020, i.e. CHF 34% less. This decline was mainly due to the concert sector, where income fell by CHF 51%, from CHF 23 million in 2019 to CHF 11.4 million in 2020. In the hospitality sector, income fell from CHF 3.7 million to CHF 1.99 million. CHF 3.7 million to CHF 1.99 million (-46%), for entertainment events it fell from CHF 2.36 million to CHF 1.24 million (-48%) and for cinemas from CHF 2.6 million to CHF 1.07 million (-58%).

Suisa was only able to partially offset this decline in other areas. Income from broadcasting rights rose slightly from CHF 63.6 million in the previous year to CHF 64.3 million in 2020. The feared declines, e.g. due to lower advertising income from television and radio stations due to the cancellation of major events, did not materialize for the time being.

Revenue in the online sector also increased last year, from CHF 14.5 million to CHF 17.1 million (+17.4%). This is due in particular to higher income from the subsidiary Suisa Digital Licensing and Mint Digital Services, the joint venture with the US company Sesac.

Suisa is also expecting less income for composers, lyricists and music publishers this year and next. It will take months, if not years, before concerts and major events with music can be held again on the same scale as before the pandemic.

Annual Report 2020: www.suisa.ch/geschaeftsbericht

Detailed article on the annual results: https://blog.suisa.ch/de/ein-beachtliches-ergebnis-trotz-covid/