Applying for a licence for music use

Do you want to use music in your company? For instance in your shop, restaurant or on your website? Then you must have permission from the music’s rights holders. You can pay for a music licence which gives you permission to use their music.

When do you need a music licence?

You need to apply for a licence to play music if you play music outside the domestic sphere, which includes:

• catering establishments, such as cafes, (company) restaurants, hotels, gyms, or indoor playgrounds
• public areas
• dance halls
• sales areas, such as shops, shopping centres, passenger transport, exhibitions
• companies, offices, and educational institutions
• events
• background audio on your website
• media productions such as videos, advertising, podcasts, games and apps

Use the music licence check to find if you need a licence and which music licence you need.

Applying for a music licence

You apply for a music licence with MijnLicentie, a cooperation by Buma/Stemra and Sena. These are collective management organisations (CMOs) who act on behalf of artists to grant you permission to use their music. If you apply for rights from more than one CMO, you can opt for a combined invoice with MijnLicentie.

Sector organisations can request a collective licence with Sena.

Costs of a music licence

The cost of licences to play music differ. It depends partly on the sector and also on:

• whether it is live music, light music, or background music
• the number of persons potentially hearing the music
• the floor area of the space in which the music can be heard
• how often the music is played

You can calculate the cost of your licence with MijnLicentie.