If you play music publicly in your venue, you need performing rights licences. Here's what they are, which ones you need, and how promotion platforms like Bajaiyo fit in.
When a recording artist releases a song, multiple rights holders are involved: the songwriter, the music publisher, the recording artist, and the record label. When you play that song publicly - in a café, gym, hotel lobby, or restaurant - all of these rights holders are entitled to a small royalty for that use.
Performing rights organisations (PROs) collect and distribute those royalties on their behalf. As a venue owner, you pay a licence fee to the relevant PRO, which then distributes it to the appropriate rights holders.
Most countries have two separate licensing requirements for venue music. The first covers recording rights - the rights of the artist and label who recorded the track. The second covers songwriter rights - the rights of the people who wrote the music, which may be entirely different people from the performers.
In many jurisdictions, you need separate licences for both. The specific organisations vary by country, but the requirement is consistent: public music playback requires both types of coverage. Contact the relevant PROs in your country to confirm what's required for your venue size and usage.
Playing music publicly means playing it in a space where customers or members of the public can hear it. This includes background music in a café, workout music in a gym, lobby music in a hotel, and music in a restaurant or bar.
It doesn't matter whether the music comes from a streaming service, a CD, radio, or a third-party platform - the public playback licence requirement applies to all of them.
Bajaiyo is a music promotion marketplace. We connect independent artists with venues so artists get heard and venues earn income for hosting music. We do not provide performing rights licences, and we are not a substitute for them.
This is an important distinction: Bajaiyo's service sits alongside your existing licensing obligations, not in place of them. You still need the appropriate licences for playing music publicly in your venue, regardless of where that music comes from. We strongly recommend consulting the relevant performing rights organisations in your country to confirm your compliance before you start.
Most PROs have straightforward online applications. You'll typically declare the size of your venue, the hours music plays, and the nature of your business. Fees are usually calculated based on these factors and paid annually.
Once licensed, you're covered for all the music you play in your venue - including music from an independent artist catalogue like Bajaiyo's.
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Once you're licensed, list your venue and start earning →