What license do you need to play music in public?
Asked by: Prof. Linnie Schulist | Last update: May 9, 2026Score: 4.3/5 (52 votes)
To play copyrighted music in public (businesses, events), you need a Public Performance License, obtained from Performance Rights Organizations (PROs) like ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC in the U.S., which cover different catalogs and types of usage (background music, DJs, live bands). Personal streaming services (Spotify, Apple Music) aren't licensed for business, so you must get specific commercial licenses or use business-focused services to avoid copyright infringement and fines.
Do you need permission to play music in public?
But songs you play in a restaurant or shop are considered public performances, and if you play them without permission, you may be subjecting yourself to copyright law violations and could be subject to fines.
How to get a public performance license for music?
Public performance licenses are acquired through Performance Rights Organizations. In the United States, there are four primary agencies: (1) the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (“ASCAP”); (2) Broadcast Music, Inc.
Are you allowed to play music in public?
You're infringing copyright if you play live or recorded music in public without a licence. You could be sued for damages.
Do I need a BMI and ASCAP license?
You need either BMI or ASCAP (or another Performance Rights Organization like SESAC), not both as a songwriter, to collect public performance royalties for your music; they handle rights for radio, live shows, streaming, TV, and film, but you can register a separate publishing company with both to maximize royalties as a publisher, which is a key distinction.
Do I Need a Licenses To Play Music at My Business?
Is Taylor Swift ASCAP or BMI?
Taylor Swift is affiliated with BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.), not ASCAP, having joined them in 2004 and re-signing with them for years to collect royalties for public performances of her music, consistently winning major awards from BMI like Songwriter of the Year. Both BMI and ASCAP are Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) that collect royalties, but artists typically register with only one.
How much does an ASCAP license cost?
ASCAP license costs vary widely, from under $1 a day for small digital uses to hundreds or thousands annually for businesses, depending heavily on your business type (restaurant, store, venue, etc.), size (square footage, capacity, employee count), and music usage (live, recorded, audio-visual, specific tech). While some minimums exist, like around $390/year for businesses, you'll need to use ASCAP's website or contact them for a precise quote, as rates are customized.
How much does a music license cost?
ASCAP License Cost: License fees typically start around $390 per year. Costs increase based on factors like square footage and music usage. BMI License Cost: Licenses range from $250 to $2,000 per year, depending on your industry, the size of your store, and whether music is played live or recorded.
Can you play Spotify in a bar?
It's not legal to use Spotify in public places for any size and type of business including hotels, retail stores, restaurants, bars, offices, medical clinics, gyms, salons, spas or schools. With Spotify, you can only stream music for non-commercial, personal entertainment use.
Do bars need a license to play music?
U.S. copyright law requires you to obtain permission from music copyright owners to play their music in your business. Instead of reaching out to hundreds of thousands of music creators yourself, a single ASCAP license agreement gives you permission to play music from any ASCAP member.
How can I legally play music in my business?
Obtain a License from PROs: Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) like ASCAP, BMI, GMR, and SESAC collect fees for public performances of music and distribute them to songwriters and publishers. You will need to apply to one or more PROs and pay the associated fees to legally play music in your business.
How do I do a poor man's copyright?
A "poor man's copyright" is an informal, ineffective method of proving creation date by mailing a copy of your work (lyrics, manuscript, etc.) to yourself and keeping the unopened envelope with its postmark as evidence, but it provides no real legal protection and is not a substitute for formal registration, though the postmark might offer slight evidence of existence date in a dispute. To do it, you'd place your work in an envelope, address it to yourself, and mail it, leaving it sealed. For actual copyright protection, you must register with the U.S. Copyright Office.
What is the difference between ASCAP and BMI?
Costs: ASCAP requires a $50 fee for artists, while BMI charges nothing. Neither company requires annual dues. Payment frequency: Both companies pay their artists about twice per year, so there aren't major differences between them. Structure and setup: Both organizations are nonprofits, but ASCAP is member-owned.
Who is exempt from music licensing?
Exemptions from music licensing in the U.S. primarily benefit small businesses (under 2,000 sq. ft. for retail, 3,750 sq. ft. for food/drink) playing music from radio or TVs with limited speakers/screens, or specific educational/religious uses; however, live music, CDs, and interactive streaming usually require licenses, and cover charges or commercial advantage negate exemptions. Exemptions are narrow, so most businesses, non-profits, and events need licenses from performing rights organizations (PROs) like ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC.
Can I play Spotify music in my cafe?
The purpose of Spotify and Apple Music is for personal use and non-commercial use. As a result, you cannot play music using Spotify or Apple Music in your cafe.
How do I obtain a public performance license?
Business owners in the United States should contact the rights agencies that handle public performance licensing in the United States (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, ALLTRACK, and GMR) to inquire about obtaining public performance licenses.
How to legally play music in a restaurant?
Playing music in your restaurant is considered a public performance. You'll either need licenses from the major PROs to play each song, or you can subscribe to a commercial streaming service like Pandora CloudCover.
How many Spotify plays does it take to make $1000?
To make $1,000 on Spotify, you generally need 200,000 to 333,000 streams, as Spotify pays roughly $0.003 to $0.005 per stream, but this varies greatly due to listener location, subscription type (free vs. premium), and your deal with labels or distributors. Factors like listener country (e.g., US streams pay more than Turkey), listener subscription status, and your distribution agreement significantly impact the final payout, with a track needing at least 1,000 streams in 12 months to earn royalties.
Can you play your own music in a pub?
The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 states you need to get permission from the copyright holder to 'perform' music in public – and a music licence grants you this permission. Our licensing is flexible and covers the vast majority of commercial music originating from the UK and all over the world.
What license do I need to play music in public?
If you want to play recorded music in public (for example, to staff or customers at your business premises), you'll need a licence from PPL PRS.
What is the 3 month rule for copyright?
The "copyright 3 month rule" in the U.S. refers to a key deadline for copyright owners: registering their work with the U.S. Copyright Office within three months of its first publication makes them eligible for significant benefits, including statutory damages and attorney's fees in infringement lawsuits, a remedy not available if registration occurs after infringement begins (unless within that three-month window). It's a strong incentive to register early, though copyright protection exists automatically upon creation, this timely registration unlocks powerful legal remedies.
What is a floating license?
Floating licensing, also known as concurrent licensing or network licensing, is a software licensing approach in which a limited number of licenses for a software application are shared among a larger number of users over time.
How much to license a Taylor Swift song?
Taylor Swift reacquired the master recordings and rights to her first six albums from Shamrock Capital in 2025 for approximately $360 million, the same price Ithaca Holdings (Scooter Braun's company) reportedly paid for them in 2020. This deal, which includes music videos, artwork, and unreleased material, finally gave Swift full ownership and control over her early catalog after a long dispute.
What is the 35 year rule in music?
The "35-year rule" in music refers to the termination right in the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, allowing songwriters and artists to reclaim copyrights for works transferred to publishers or labels after 35 years from the grant date (for agreements signed after Jan 1, 1978). This powerful, non-waivable provision lets creators recapture rights to songs and recordings, enabling renegotiation of deals, though it requires specific legal steps within a defined window, leading to major legal battles as artists seek to regain control.
Can I license music I don't own?
Generally, to use the sound recordings or musical works of another artist, you must: Use a work that is already in the public domain. Get permission from the copyright holder directly, or license the work according to the terms set by the licensing contract.