Most people think:
“If I bought the song, I can play it.”
Wrong.
In most countries, playing music in public is a licensed activity.
And yes — there is a tax-like fee to pay.
1. Personal Use vs Public Use
When you buy music on Spotify, Apple Music, CD, or MP3,
you are buying it for personal use.
That means:
Home
Car
Headphones
Not business.
The moment you play music in:
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A bar
-
A café
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A shop
-
A gym
-
A salon
-
A hotel
It becomes public performance.
And public performance requires permission.
2. Who Controls These Rights?
Music is protected by copyright.
But artists don’t manage it alone.
They use collecting societies, such as:
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SIAE (Italy)
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PRS (UK)
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ASCAP / BMI (USA)
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SACEM (France)
These organizations collect fees for artists.
You pay them.
They pay musicians.
3. Why Do You Have to Pay?
Because music increases business value.
It:
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Improves mood
-
Makes people stay longer
-
Increases spending
-
Builds atmosphere
So legally, music is a business tool.
Not background noise.
4. How Much Does It Cost?
It depends on:
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Size of your place
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Number of seats
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Type of business
-
Music source
-
Opening hours
A small café may pay:
€100–€400 per year
Big venues pay thousands.
It’s not symbolic.
It’s real money.
5. “But I Use Spotify…” — Still Not Allowed
Important:
Normal Spotify / YouTube / Apple Music accounts
are NOT licensed for business use.
They are personal licenses.
Using them in shops = violation.
Some platforms offer special business plans.
Most people ignore this.
Until they get fined.
6. How Do They Know You’re Playing Music?
Many think:
“They’ll never know.”
Wrong.
They use:
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Inspectors
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Reports
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Random visits
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Complaints
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Digital monitoring
They walk in like customers.
Then ask for documents.
7. What Happens If You Don’t Pay?
If caught:
❌ Fines
❌ Back payments
❌ Legal notices
❌ Business problems
Sometimes more expensive than years of licenses.
8. Alternatives: Royalty-Free Music
Some businesses avoid fees by using:
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Royalty-free music
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Licensed libraries
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Custom tracks
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Independent artists
But licenses must be real.
Not “free YouTube”.
9. Hotels, Gyms, and Waiting Rooms
This applies also to:
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Elevators
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Waiting rooms
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Reception areas
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Bathrooms
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Lobbies
Yes.
Even there.
10. MAACAT Insight: Music Is an Asset
In business:
Everything that improves experience
is monetized.
Music
Light
Smell
Design
Comfort
Nothing is “just decoration”.
It’s part of the product.
11. Why Many Small Businesses Ignore This
Because:
-
Nobody explains it
-
It sounds absurd
-
Everyone else does it
-
Enforcement is irregular
Until one day…
It’s not.
12. How to Stay Safe
If you run a place:
✅ Contact local collecting society
✅ Ask about tariffs
✅ Get license
✅ Keep documents
✅ Use business-approved music
It’s boring.
But safe.
