Music licensing laws are a complicated and often confusing topic, especially regarding the legality of playing music within a business. These days, it feels like playing music in public places is almost a necessity to maintain customer satisfaction, leading many business owners to ask, “Do I need a music license?” After all, who wants to eat or shop in complete and total silence?

Luckily, obtaining a license to play music legally in an establishment isn’t too difficult for business owners as long as you know where to look. If you’re a business owner looking to play background music in your shop to enhance the customer experience, keep reading to learn everything you need to know about music licensing laws.

There are certain laws that dictate whether or not you’re allowed to play music for business purposes. Every so often the Performing Rights Organizations (PROs), the societies in charge of collecting and enforcing music licensing laws, will file a lawsuit against a bar, restaurant, or another establishment for playing music in a business without a license. This always begins with a legal letter from one of the four PROs, ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, or GMR, notifying the establishment they are in violation. If you have received one, it’s nothing to take lightly. The letter will rightfully demand the business purchase a license immediately, and oftentimes require back payments, which can easily reach into the five figures. Lawsuits are reserved for major violators, but when they happen, they get the attention of business owners everywhere.

So, you might be asking, “Can I legally play the radio in my place of business without risking the attention of one of these PROs?” The answer depends on your specific needs and what music you wish to play or perform for your business. There are a lot of different aspects to these laws, so they can be a complicated matter – especially in regard to the radio. This article will give you the ins and outs of how to legally play music in your business as well as some tips and alternatives for playing music for business use. Keep reading to learn more.