GRA Tip of the Month l Music Licensing: Are You Covered?

Football Season Is Here: Is Your Music Licensing Covered?

Football season means packed bars, watch parties, pregame playlists and TVs running all weekend. It’s also a good time to make sure your restaurant’s music licensing is in order.

Here’s what you need to know:

Playing music in a restaurant is different from listening to it at home. Personal Spotify, Apple Music or similar subscriptions generally aren’t licensed for use in a restaurant. Restaurants may need licenses from performing rights organizations including our partners at ASCAP and BMI.

Why Football Season Matters

Think about whether game day changes how you use music. Adding a DJ, live band, karaoke, pregame playlist or TVs with sound could change your licensing needs.

There is a federal exemption that allows many restaurants to play television broadcasts without a separate music license, provided certain requirements are met. Larger establishments have additional restrictions involving the number and size of TVs and speakers.

GRA Recommendation

Before football season gets into full swing:

• Review the music licenses you already have and what they cover.
• Make sure any music service you use is approved for commercial use.
• Review your coverage before adding DJs, live music, karaoke or other entertainment.

• If you receive a letter from a music licensing organization, don’t ignore it. Review your current coverage and make sure your restaurant has the appropriate licenses in place.

A quick review now can help make sure the only penalties you’re worrying about this football season are the ones happening on the field.