Can You Play the Radio or TV in Your Business? The Licensing Rules Explained
September 1, 2026
Plenty of business owners assume the question answers itself. The radio station already pays for the music, so surely playing it in a shop or [...]
Live Music, Open Mic, and Karaoke: What Licensing Do You Actually Need
August 26, 2026
If you host live performers, run an open mic night, or have a karaoke machine behind the bar, you have probably wondered who is actually [...]
What Happens During an ASCAP or BMI Audit (And How to Prepare)
August 26, 2026
Maybe it was a letter that showed up with an unfamiliar return address. Maybe it was a phone call asking whether you play music in [...]
Do You Need a Music License for Outdoor Seating and Patios
August 26, 2026
When patio season rolls around, a lot of restaurant, café and bar owners start treating the outdoor section like a different business altogether. The dining [...]
Licensing Your Own Music vs Using a Licensed Service
August 25, 2026
If you play music in your business, you have two ways to get legal, whether you’re in the US or Canada. You can license it [...]
“But It’s My Own Playlist” and Other Myths That Get Businesses Fined
August 25, 2026
Ask a café owner why they never looked into music licensing and you will almost always hear some version of the same answer. “It’s my [...]
Famous Music Copyright Infringement Cases (And What They Teach Us)
July 22, 2026
Music copyright disputes make headlines because they involve familiar songs and famous names. But the lessons from these cases apply just as much to a [...]
Church Music Licensing: What’s Exempt and What Isn’t
July 20, 2026
Many churches assume that because their gatherings are rooted in faith, music played on-site is automatically free to use. That assumption is only partly true. [...]
Office Music Licensing: Shared Playlists, Desk Speakers, and Hold Music
July 16, 2026
Most offices have more than one source of music running at any given time. A shared playlist plays over the office sound system. Someone at [...]