Do I need a music license?

Music plays a crucial role in setting the atmosphere in your establishment, business, or public venue. Naturally, music creators deserve fair compensation for their work. This is why you usually need a combined license from BumaStemra (composers/lyricists/publishers) and Sena (musicians/producers) to use music that can be heard by customers or employees. These music licenses are governed by copyright law and neighboring rights law.

You will require a license if one of the following statements applies to your business. If so, you can follow the steps to calculate the license fee and, if necessary, obtain a license.

  • The music is audible to customers, employees, and/or the public in a public space (including when using the radio).
  • The music is audible for three or more employees in non-public spaces (such as cafeterias, warehouses, and offices).
  • You use the music in or on a website, app, game, series, documentary, TV, radio, audiovisual production, or on CD, vinyl, or DVD.
 

When using music on location, first select your industry:

Hospitality

Such as restaurants, bars, snack bars, clubs, hotels, B&B, catering, and recreational businesses.

Shops

Such as clothes, food, drug stores, pharmacies, petrol stations, supermarkets, and department stores.

Care

Such as hairdressers, salons, practices (GP, physio, midwife, …), sports canteens, saunas, and dance schools.

Offices

Such as work spaces, factories, warehouses, workshops, and business premises.

Online Radio

Such as hobby or commercial radio stations, and event transmitters.

Other

Such as events, amusement arcades, schools, music associations, and care facilities.

For all other situations involving the use of music, the BumaStemra licence guide will advise you which licence is appropriate. For media licences, licences for (dance) events and collective industry organisations, we refer you to Sena’s licence page.

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