Get Started
Get Started

United States music licensing for business

Try For Free

Why your business needs special music licensing

Playing music in your place of business isn’t as simple as queuing up a playlist from your personal streaming account. In the United States, using music in a commercial setting requires specific licenses to ensure you're not violating copyright law. These licenses cover the rights of songwriters, publishers, and performers whose work is being used to enhance your business environment.

For a complete overview, visit our guide to commercial music licensing for business.

Music licensing requirements for businesses in the United States

Why you can't use personal streaming services

There's a clear legal difference between listening to music for personal enjoyment and playing it in a business. Consumer streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music, or Amazon Music are licensed for personal, private use only. Once music is played in a public or commercial space, it is considered a public performance, which requires separate licensing.

Using personal streaming services in a business setting can lead to significant legal consequences. Businesses have been fined thousands of dollars for playing music without proper licenses. These penalties can come from lawsuits initiated by U.S. performance rights organizations (PROs) like ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and GMR.

Understanding music licensing in the U.S.

Using music commercially in the U.S. means navigating copyright law and securing the proper licenses. Here are the three main types of music rights that businesses need to be aware of:

Recording rights (master rights)

Cover the specific recording of a song, the version performed by a particular artist.

Publishing rights

Cover the underlying musical composition, including lyrics and melody, regardless of who performs it.

Public performance rights

Allow music to be played in public or commercial spaces. These are the most relevant for business owners and are administered by U.S. performance rights organizations (PROs).

Public performance rights are the most relevant for business owners. In the U.S., these rights are administered by four main PROs:

✔ ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers)

✔ BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.)

✔ SESAC (Society of European Stage Authors and Composers)

✔ GMR (Global Music Rights)

Each PRO represents different artists and catalogs. To ensure full legal coverage, businesses would normally need to hold licenses from all of them. Fortunately, SoundMachine simplifies this.

U.S. copyright law for music licensing

In the U.S., Title 17 of the U.S. Code (Copyright Law) governs how music can be used. According to this law:

✔ Playing music in a public space without the correct license is considered copyright infringement.

✔ Even if a song has been purchased or streamed legally for personal use, that does not make it legal for business use.

✔ Public performance licenses are mandatory unless you use a commercial music service that includes them.

This applies to all businesses, whether you're a boutique, coffee shop, office, or salon. To comply, you must either license music directly from PROs or use a licensed commercial platform like SoundMachine.

How to license music for commercial use in the U.S.

Option 1: License directly through PROs

You can obtain licenses directly from each U.S. PRO: ASCAP, BMI, SESAC and GMR. Each covers a different catalogue of artists and songs, so multiple licenses may be required. Costs vary by business type, square footage, and how music is used. Managing separate agreements across all four PROs can be time-consuming and expensive.

Understanding PRO licensing costs

Licensing music directly through U.S. performance rights organizations (PROs) can quickly become expensive and complex. These organizations charge fees that vary based on your business type, square footage, music usage, and more, and that's before you even choose how you'll play the music.

Here's a general idea of what you might expect to pay:

✔ ASCAP license cost: Annual fees start around $390.

✔ BMI license cost: Rates typically range from $250 to $2,000, depending on the nature and size of your business.

✔ SESAC and GMR: These are invitation-only PROs that do not publicly list pricing. However, their licensing rates are often negotiated at a premium due to their more exclusive music catalogs.

Even at the lower end, a business licensing all four PROs could be spending over $1,000 per year just to obtain legal clearance to play music, without factoring in the cost of the actual music platform or streaming hardware.

How SoundMachine simplifies it all

With SoundMachine, all required PRO licenses (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and GMR) are included in one subscription. For just $323.40 per year, your business gets full legal coverage plus a complete commercial music solution. That includes curated stations, custom playlist creation, scheduling tools, and compatibility with professional systems like Sonos and Crestron.

In short, you get more value, better control, and full compliance, without the cost or complexity of managing multiple licensing agreements.

Option 2: Use a licensed commercial music service

SoundMachine simplifies the process by including public performance licenses from all major U.S. PROs in one subscription. This not only ensures full legal coverage, but also offers cost savings and eliminates the hassle of managing multiple licensing agreements, all while delivering a tailored music experience for your brand.

How SoundMachine handles licensing

Comprehensive licensing coverage

SoundMachine’s subscription-based service includes all the public performance licenses needed to legally play music in your business, eliminating the need to negotiate separate agreements with organizations like ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, or GMR.

SoundMachine is a fully licensed commercial music service designed specifically for businesses, whether you run a café, retail store, hotel, or multi-location chain.

This licensing coverage applies specifically to background music use and does not extend to live performances, karaoke, DJ sets, or events that involve admission fees. For those types of activities, separate licensing arrangements must be made directly with the relevant performance rights organizations.

How SoundMachine works

SoundMachine is more than just a music streaming service. It’s a robust platform built to meet the specific needs of businesses, with built-in public performance licensing from all major U.S. PROs (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and GMR) included in every plan.

✔ Professionally curated playlists and stations - Designed to create the right ambiance for different industries

✔ Custom music options - Build your own mixes or playlists to match your brand identity

✔ Playlist importing - Seamlessly import playlists from major services like Spotify or Apple Music to maintain consistency with your brand’s existing sound.

✔ Scheduling tools - Set playlists to play at different times of day or week

✔ Multi-location and multi-user support - Manage music across multiple sites and zones from one account

✔ Device integration - Compatible with Sonos, Crestron, and other business audio systems

✔ Promotional messaging - Insert branded messages or announcements between songs

✔ Remote control features - Make changes on the fly from your desktop or mobile device

Steps to get licensed music for your business

Start a free trial

You can begin with a 14-day risk-free trial to experience how SoundMachine works in your business. No credit card required upfront.

Choose a plan

SoundMachine offers three main plans:

✔ Business - Ideal for single-location businesses seeking a dependable and professional background music solution. This plan offers curated stations and essential scheduling tools, allowing you to easily set the right atmosphere with no hassle.

✔ Business Premium - Tailored for businesses seeking greater control over their music. This plan gives access to the entire music library, over 500 curated stations, and advanced features like playlist importing from Spotify and Apple Music. Customers can upgrade to Business Premium HD for high-definition audio streaming if superior sound quality is a priority.

✔ Enterprise - Designed for large or multi-location businesses, the Enterprise plan includes all the features of Business Premium, offering complete control, scalability, and centralised management tools. The key advantage is the ability to create fully custom playlists that align with your brand’s identity, along with enhanced support for more complex requirements. This includes priority assistance and dedicated account management, making it the perfect choice for businesses seeking a personalised music strategy and expert service across multiple locations.

Pricing depends on factors like the size of your space, number of business locations, licensing requirements, how many stations or playlists you plan to use, and whether you need features like playlist importing.

Set up your system

SoundMachine is accessible through desktop apps, mobile apps, and hardware players. Integration with professional systems is straightforward, whether you're using a tablet behind the counter or a full audio installation.

Customize and schedule your music

Use the platform’s tools to design a music schedule that fits your brand, customer flow, and mood preferences. You can create different sound profiles for different times of day, or even different zones within a location.

More information about U.S. performing rights organizations and business licensing

In the United States, four primary music licensing organizations, known as performing rights organizations (PROs), manage the public performance rights for millions of songs. Their role is to ensure that songwriters, composers, and publishers are fairly compensated when their music is played in commercial spaces.

These organizations are:

✔ ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers)

A member-owned nonprofit founded in 1914 in New York City. ASCAP is known for its historic role in music licensing and strong representation of pop, rock, and mainstream genres.

✔ BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.)

Founded in 1939, BMI is the largest PRO by membership. It operates as a for-profit company and represents a vast catalog spanning country, Latin, hip-hop, and more.

✔ SESAC (Society of European Stage Authors and Composers)

Established in 1930, SESAC is a for-profit, invitation-only organization with a selective roster. It offers personalized service and represents a diverse range of musical styles.

✔ GMR (Global Music Rights)

The newest of the four, GMR was founded in 2013. It operates as a for-profit entity with a curated artist list, an emphasis on exclusive representation, and a focus on global licensing.

Each organization controls rights to different works. To ensure full legal coverage, many businesses must obtain licenses from all four.

Comparison table: U.S. PROs at a glance

Feature ASCAP BMI SESAC GMR
Structure Member-owned nonprofit For-profit For-profit, invitation-only For-profit, invitation-only
Members ~1 million+ ~1.4 million+ ~15,000+ 163
Catalog Size ~20 million songs ~22.4 million songs ~1.5 million songs ~111,000 songs
Typical Cost ~$390 minimum $250–$2,000 Not disclosed Not disclosed
Notable Artists Stevie Wonder, Katy Perry, Beyoncé Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Rihanna Adele, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond Pharrell Williams, Bruno Mars, Drake

Why businesses often need multiple licenses

Because no single PRO covers the entire music industry, a license from one may not protect you if you play songs managed by another. For example, playing a playlist that includes both Adele (SESAC) and Bruno Mars (GMR) would require licensing from both organizations. Overlooking this can lead to legal claims and significant fines.

Secure and streamlined music licensing with SoundMachine

Securing the right music licenses is not just a legal requirement, it’s also a way to respect and support the creators behind the music you use to enhance your business.

For most businesses, the simplest and safest solution is to use a fully licensed commercial music provider like SoundMachine, which includes blanket licensing from all major U.S. PROs as part of the subscription.

The value of SoundMachine

SoundMachine gives businesses a legal and easy way to play music that fits their brand and customer experience. It eliminates the need for multiple PRO licenses and offers centralized tools for music control across all your locations.

✔ Fully licensed background music

✔ Better ambiance, better customer experience

✔ Control and customization tools for your team

✔ Scalable for growing businesses

Whether you're just getting started or switching from another service, SoundMachine helps you get background music right; legally, easily, and on brand.

Make music work for your business

Complying with U.S. music licensing laws doesn't have to be complicated. SoundMachine offers a fully licensed, all-in-one solution that's easy to manage and built for commercial use.

From curated playlists to flexible scheduling and multi-location control, everything is designed to enhance your space and support your brand.

Want to keep things legal, simple, and on-brand? Get in touch with our team to learn more or start your 14-day free trial. We're here to help you sound great, without the legal guesswork.