Buma/Stemra and Sena: the difference between copyright and neighbouring rights
Music has two layers of rights, and each has its own collecting organisation. Buma/Stemra collects copyright: that is about the composition and the lyrics, so about the people who created the song. Think of composers, lyricists and music publishers.
Sena collects neighbouring rights. That is not about who wrote the song, but about who recorded and performed it. Sena pays the performing artists and the producers (the record labels) when their commercially released recording is made public.
- Buma/Stemra = who wrote it (copyright, for creators and publishers).
- Sena = who recorded and played it (neighbouring rights, for artists and labels).
As the organiser, you are legally the licensee and the paying party, not the DJ or the band. So you arrange the permission yourself, even if you engage a booker or production agency.
When you pay Buma/Stemra for live music and recorded music
Buma/Stemra is almost always in the picture, because virtually every song was written by someone. As soon as you make music public at your festival, whether it is played live or played back, you pay copyright.
Sena comes in as soon as recorded music plays. If a DJ plays existing tracks, or you play music between the performances and around your site, you use recordings and therefore also pay Sena.
- A live band or artist playing their own or someone else's songs: usually only Buma/Stemra, because no existing recording is played.
- A DJ set, a playlist between the acts, background music in the food and drink area or at the entrance: both Buma/Stemra and Sena.
A festival almost always deals with both. So assume you are arranging two payments, unless your programme consists purely of live acts without any recorded music.
When you need a Sena licence for your event
For Sena it depends on where you are and what you charge at the door. If you organise at an external, rented location, you always need a separate event licence. The general entertainment-music licence the location itself holds does not cover your festival.
If you are the location holder yourself with a current music licence, an event with an entrance fee up to 25 euros (excl. VAT) is usually included. If you charge more than 25 euros (excl. VAT), you still need a separate event licence. This amount is indicative (2026), see the current terms at the source.
A free-entry (dance) event must also be reported to Sena. No entrance fee does not mean there is nothing to arrange: you are still making music public.
What the rate depends on: box-office takings, visitors and floor area
Buma/Stemra charges a percentage for events. The basis is your box-office takings (the ticket revenue excl. VAT) or the total amount you pay the artists (the fee or purchase price excl. VAT). The higher of those two is decisive. Over that amount Buma/Stemra charges a percentage, indicatively around 7% (2026), see the current rates at the source.
If your event is free and artists perform without payment or for a symbolic fee, Buma/Stemra applies a minimum rate based on the floor area of your site.
Sena calculates the payment to measure. In your declaration you report, among other things, how many visitors you expect and what kind of music will play. The rates are in a separate rate overview, with its own tier for dance events.
- Paid entry: a percentage of box-office takings or fees (Buma/Stemra), plus a tailored payment (Sena).
- Free entry: a minimum rate based on floor area (Buma/Stemra), plus a declaration and payment to Sena.
Do not work with fixed amounts from this guide: rates and terms change. Always check the current rates at bumastemra.nl and sena.nl for your situation.
Registering your event and reporting the setlist or playlist
Preferably register your event in advance, so you know where you stand and avoid surcharges. For events, Buma/Stemra and Sena work together under the name MijnLicentie. You fill in a joint declaration form and send it to evenementen@mijnlicentie.nl.
On the form you provide your company details and Chamber of Commerce (KVK) number, plus the name, date and location of your festival, the entrance prices, the ticket revenue excl. VAT, the artist fees and the line-up. You also submit the setlists and playlists.
That setlist or playlist is not just paperwork. Based on it, Buma/Stemra and Sena distribute your payment among the right creators and artists. So during the festival, keep track per act and per DJ of which songs were played.
- Apply for the licence in advance via evenementen@mijnlicentie.nl.
- For a separate Sena declaration: evenementen@sena.nl. For Buma/Stemra questions: podia.evenementen@bumastemra.nl.
If you register too late, the costs go up. With Buma/Stemra you pay no surcharge up to one month afterwards. Between 1 and 2 months after your event a 10% surcharge is added, and every 2 months after that another 5%, up to a maximum of 20% surcharge. The invoice is usually paid within 30 days.
Reserving music rights in advance in your festival budget
Music rights are a fixed cost item, not a surprise afterwards. Put them in your budget as soon as you know your ticket price and artist budget, because the Buma/Stemra amount hangs directly on those.
A workable approach: estimate your box-office takings and your total fee budget, take the higher of the two and calculate a percentage of it for Buma/Stemra. In addition, reserve a line for Sena based on your expected visitor number. Keep a margin, because the final payment follows from the final settlement.
In the budgeting module of festival.productions you can include an automatic Buma/Sena reservation, so the amount moves with your ticket sales and your programme and you never face an additional charge.
- Reserve early, based on box-office takings or fees.
- Update the reservation as your line-up and ticket forecast sharpen.
- Allow for the 30-day payment term after the invoice.