{"id":2508,"date":"2026-04-30T14:50:03","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T14:50:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sound-machine.com\/blog\/?p=2508"},"modified":"2026-04-30T14:50:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T14:50:22","slug":"which-performing-rights-organizations-should-i-be-aware-of","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sound-machine.com\/blog\/2026\/04\/30\/which-performing-rights-organizations-should-i-be-aware-of\/","title":{"rendered":"Which Performing Rights Organizations Should I Be Aware of?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you play music in a business, you need to think about public performance rights. That applies to more than bars and clubs. A caf\u00e9, restaurant, hotel, salon, gym, or office can all run into the same issue.<\/span><\/p>\n

Performing rights organizations, or PROs, license the public performance of songs on behalf of songwriters, composers, and publishers. They collect fees from businesses, then pay royalties to the people who own the songs. The part that trips people up is simple: one PRO license does not cover every song. Each organization controls its own catalog, so the rights you need depend on what music you play and how you use it.<\/span><\/p>\n

It all begins with <\/span>commercial music licensing<\/span><\/a> that supports the atmosphere you want to create.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Performing Rights Organizations Do<\/b><\/h2>\n

Most businesses do not license songs one by one. They use blanket licenses instead. A blanket license gives a business permission to play any song in that PRO\u2019s catalog, as long as the use fits the license terms.<\/span><\/p>\n

That is why PROs matter. If the music you use includes songs from more than one catalog, one license may not be enough. In the US, the main names businesses usually hear are ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and GMR. Outside the US, the setup changes. Some countries use one main organization, while others split rights between songwriters, publishers, performers, and labels.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is also why a personal streaming account is not the same thing as business music coverage. Paying to listen to music yourself is different from having the right to play it in a public setting. If you want a broader look at<\/span> music licensing for business<\/span><\/a>, we break that down in more detail there.<\/span><\/p>\n

Which Organizations Businesses Should Know<\/b><\/h2>\n

United States<\/b><\/h3>\n