A licence is not required to stage a performance of live music, or the playing of recorded music if: it takes place at an alcohol on-licensed premises; and. the audience is no more than 500 people.

Can I stream music in my restaurant?

Yes. Under the Copyright Act, exemptions apply only to radio and TV. Purchasing music allows you only to listen to it privately. Once you play music from your iPod or other device in a business, it’s a public performance and must be licensed.

Do restaurants need a music license?

Before you press the play button in your restaurant, what are the questions you need to ask? If you play recorded music in public, including playing a radio or TV on your premises, you will usually be legally required to have both a PPL and a PRS for Music licence.

Who needs a music license?

If you use, play or perform music in your business or organisation, the chances are you need a music licence. Under The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, permission is needed from the relevant copyright holders – those people who create music – in order to play or perform music in public.

Is it legal to play Spotify in a restaurant?

As laid out in our Terms and Conditions, Spotify is only for personal, non-commercial use. This means you can’t broadcast or play Spotify publicly from a business, such as bars, restaurants, schools, stores, salons, dance studios, radio stations, etc.

How much should I pay for music rights?

The cost to license a copyrighted song can vary widely. The cost for a song from a small independent artist might be less than $100, while a track by a major artist or label can run thousands of dollars. Some licenses might also charge you a percentage of revenue instead.

Do you need a license to play music in a restaurant?

To play music in your restaurant, you’ll need a music license to avoid copyright infringement. This includes live music, as well as music from a CD, or streaming service. The fines for playing copyrighted music without a license can range from $750 to $30,000 .

Can a restaurant play music on the radio?

Federal copyright law, Section 110 (5) (B), exempts restaurants that play music transmitted via radio, TV and cable and satellite sources if they don’t charge to hear the music. Music played by other means, such as live bands, CDs, etc., aren’t covered by the exemption.

How much does it cost to play music in a restaurant?

The judge ordered the restaurant to pay $56,100 in damages, or $3,300 per song plus associated legal fees. In the long run, paying the extensive penalties for failing to legally license music for your business is much more expensive than the $2 average cost per day for licensing.

If you own a bar, night club, or other venue hosting live music, you might want to protect your business from copyright complaints by getting properly licensed. The rule of thumb is, if you have a cover band or a tribute band playing well recognized songs, you need a license.