Question 1

How much does the SIAE licence fee cost for weddings in Italy?

Answer

For weddings in Italy, the SIAE permit usually costs between €79 and €299. The exact cost will depend on a few factors, such as the number of guests at your event, whether you have just a DJ playing recorded music or musicians playing live music, and the area of Italy your event is taking place in. See above at the top of this article for more details.

Question 2

Who is responsible for payment of the SIAE licence fee?

Answer

The general rule is that the event organiser is responsible for paying the SIAE fee. For weddings, this will usually be the couple getting married. For corporate events, it's likely to be the company. So if you're getting married in Italy and have hired a live band or DJ, you'll need to ensure you pay the SIAE fee before your wedding date.

Question 3

What happens if I don't pay the SIAE tax?

Answer

SIAE inspectors will apply onerous penalties and most importantly, the arrival of the Inspectors will cause disruption to the ceremony or wedding reception, especially if the SIAE fees have not been paid beforehand. It is the Event Planner's responsibility to pay these fees.

Question 4

Why does this matter?

Answer

SIAE inspectors have been known to shut down parties that don't have the relevant fees paid.

Question 5

When should I pay the SIAE fee?

Answer

The SIAE fee needs to be paid before the date of the event.

Question 6

Will the SIAE fee be more if I have both live music and a DJ at my wedding?

Answer

Yes, if you hire a covers band and a DJ or use a Spotify playlist at your wedding, you will need to pay the relevant SIAE licence fees that relate to both live music and DJ/Spotify (see the list above).

Question 7

Where can I get help with paying the SIAE tax?

Answer

Your local wedding planner or venue can often help advise on how to pay the relevant fees. Our wedding bands also have experience of dealing with this, so feel free to ask them about it when you enquire and they will be happy to help. If you don't have a wedding planner, some of our bands are happy to apply for the SIAE licence themselves and handle the relevant paperwork, provided the client then reimburses them for the costs afterwards. This can often be done just a couple of days before the date of your wedding. Although it's not the band's responsibility to organise or pay for the SIAE permit, most will be willing to offer some support. We at FixTheMusic also have some local contacts who can often help obtain the SIAE licence for a small fee.

Question 8

What happens after the event?

Answer

After the event, you will need to file what's known as the 'borderò', which is a form that lists the songs that were played at the event. You should give this to your musicians or DJ, who will need to complete a list of the pieces of music actually performed or played at the wedding. The completed form is then returned to the SIAE office. This information and the fee itself is used by the SIAE office to pay the copyright owners.

Question 9

Is the fee the same for other types of events?

Answer

No. The SIAE fee varies according to the type of event. The fees indicated above relate to weddings in Italy. Fees for birthday parties and other types of events, for example, are lower compared to weddings.

Question 10

Does the SIAE fee apply to music performed in church (e.g. for the wedding ceremony)?

Answer

The SIAE fee does not generally apply to music performed in church, as liturgical pieces are not protected under copyright by the SIAE.