Do restaurants need a music licence?
A restaurant needs permission for music played publicly, but the required arrangement depends on the provider, catalogue, country, and areas where music is used.
Do restaurants need a music licence?
Usually, yes. A restaurant that plays music where guests can hear it is using music publicly, but the exact permission depends on the country, the recordings and compositions used, the provider's contract, the areas covered, and whether the restaurant also hosts events. A business music subscription may cover part of the use. It does not automatically answer every local licensing question.
What the licence question actually contains
Do not treat "a music licence" as one universal document. A restaurant may need to account for:
- the musical work, including composition and lyrics
- the sound recording
- public performance or communication to the public
- music used in a DJ set, live show, karaoke, television, or music video
- additional areas such as terraces, bars, private rooms, or outdoor spaces
- the business music provider's catalogue and contract
WIPO explains that collective management organizations can license copyright and related rights on behalf of rightsholders. The organization and tariff depend on the country. This is why legal wording from one market should not simply be copied into another language.
Start with a complete use inventory
Write down every place and format in which guests or staff hear music:
- dining room and waiting area
- bar, terrace, garden, and private dining room
- breakfast service and late opening
- live performances, DJs, karaoke, television, or events
- music heard by staff in back-of-house areas
Then identify the source:
- a business music provider
- a consumer streaming account
- purchased or downloaded recordings
- a live performer or DJ
- television or online video
The answer changes when the use changes. Background music from an approved provider is not automatically the same use as a DJ event or a television showing.
Ask the provider what is covered
Get the commercial terms in writing. Confirm:
- the service is intended for restaurant public playback
- the countries and venues covered
- whether compositions and recordings are included
- the number of locations and simultaneous players
- whether terraces, bars, events, or outdoor zones are included
- what happens if a track leaves the catalogue
- what local payment or licence remains with the restaurant
- how the business can prove coverage during an inspection or dispute
Keep the terms, invoice, catalogue description, and provider correspondence together. Do not rely on a logo, a paid consumer subscription, or a sentence on a sales page without checking the contract.
Research the local market separately
Use the official rights organization or government guidance for the country where the restaurant operates. Confirm who licenses composers and publishers, who handles recordings and related rights, whether one application covers both, and whether different tariffs apply to terraces, events, or multiple sites.
If the restaurant operates in more than one country, create a row for each market. Translate the research, not the legal conclusion. The same English sentence may be inaccurate when a local collecting organization or tariff uses different categories.
Common mistakes and troubleshooting
If a restaurant cannot show what its provider covers, pause the assumption that it is compliant and ask for written clarification. If a new terrace or event is added, reopen the use inventory. If the music source changes from a business service to a personal account, review the terms before playback starts.
Do not assume that quiet music is exempt, that a paid subscription is commercial, or that a licence for background music covers live performance, DJ, karaoke, television, or music video use. When the arrangement is unclear, ask the relevant rights organization or qualified local adviser.
A licensing checklist
Before opening music to guests, confirm that:
- every music area is listed
- every source and format is identified
- provider terms are saved
- local collecting organizations have been checked
- compositions and recordings have both been considered
- terraces, events, and additional sites are included where relevant
- staff know who owns the documentation
- changes trigger a new review
MelloJam is designed for commercial background music and provides browser playlists for restaurants. Its catalogue rights are part of the service agreement, but they do not replace local obligations that fall outside that agreement. One concurrent player costs $9 per month, and up to 10 concurrent players cost $19 per month.
Explore background music for restaurants
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