Directors of commercial radio stations in the Netherlands allegedly try to collect music royalties, by registering as writers or composer of popular music.

Newspaper Volkskrant took a look in the official copyright registry of Buma/Stemra and say some radio bosses are registered as songwriters for hundreds of songs, making them (co-)owner of the copyrighted material. This means they make money every time the songs are broadcasted on the radio.

Even though official files mention the name of the original artist too, the artist may well be disadvantaged by the listing of a radio executive, as he has to share revenues with all copyright holders to the song. Among others, managers of Radio 538 and Skyradio are listed in the database of Buma/Stemra as composer or co-composer. As copyright owner they receive thousands of euros for airplay.

According to these directors, they simply collect the money for composers and writers that work for their radio station. The revenues are redistributed internally in the company and will come back to the composers. The managers do not keep the money to themselves, they say.

However, the composers do not confirm this story. In Volkskrant they make an anonymous statement, saying that they are forced into deals with radio executives to share in the revenue. It is unclear why it would be helpful to register more people as authors than just the real composers at Buma / Stemra. However, according to the radio stations, this current practice is most convenient for all parties involved.

Source (Dutch): de Volkskrant