Music licensing for your shops
Playing music in a shop is public use of that music, so the songwriters, artists and producers get paid. That applies to a CD, a streaming service, the radio and your own in-store station.
What you need to arrange
Netherlands
One application via mijnlicentie.nl, the joint platform of Buma/Stemra (songwriters and publishers) and Sena (artists and record companies). You usually need a licence when customers, visitors or more than two staff can hear the music. Licensing on time earns a discount.
Belgium
One Unisono licence, on one invoice, covering copyright through Sabam and the fair remuneration for artists and producers. The rate depends on the type and size of your business.
Other countries
Every country has its own arrangements, such as GEMA in Germany. With stores in several countries, we find out per country who handles what.
What you pay depends on the size of the space, the type of music and how often it plays. We do not quote amounts; the collecting society calculates them for your business.
What we do for you
Usually you take out the licence yourself, directly with the collecting societies. If you prefer, we can arrange it with you, or put you in touch with the right organisation.
- We tell you per country which organisation you need
- We supply the details for the application, such as the type of music and the hours the station plays
- We hold the rights to the jingles and commercials we produce
Questions about music licensing
About licences, radio and streams.
Do I pay if I only have the radio on?
Yes. Radio in your shop is public use of music too.
Is music from my own in-store station cheaper?
The licence depends on your business, not on the source. The advantage of your own station is that you know what plays and that there are no competitor ads in between.
Can I use Spotify if I have a licence?
Not a personal account. Under its terms it is for home use only, even if you pay the music licence. Read more about music in shops.
Who pays in a shopping centre?
That depends on who plays the music: the centre in the walkways, the retailer in their own shop. We help you plan it.
What if I have stores in the Netherlands and Belgium?
Then you need a licence per country: Buma/Stemra and Sena in the Netherlands, Unisono in Belgium. Your station can still be the same, or have a version per language.
What if our station is also streamed online?
A public stream on your website or through radio portals counts as broadcasting online. Different arrangements with the collecting societies apply than for music in the shop. We sort it out with you before the stream goes public.
Get in touch today
and discover the power of in-store music.