We understand that music licensing can be a complex area for business owners. This article will help clarify how Pandora CloudCover simplifies licensing, allowing you to play music in your business without the hassle of obtaining separate licenses for individual rights organizations.
What Are Public Performance Licenses?
In the United States and Canada, the public performance of music requires licensing from Performing Rights Organizations (PROs). These organizations represent songwriters, composers, and music publishers, ensuring they are compensated when their music is played in public settings, such as businesses, restaurants, retail stores, hotels, and more.
Each PRO manages a unique catalog of songs and artists, and each business that plays music in public is required to hold a license from each PRO representing the music they play. Without proper licensing, businesses risk legal action and fines for unauthorized public performances.
We Handle Licensing for You
Our subscription plans are designed to take care of these licensing requirements, saving you time and resources. When you subscribe to Pandora CloudCover, the cost includes public performance licenses from the major PROs in the United States and Canada.
In the United States, our service covers:
ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers)
BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.)
GMR (Global Music Rights)
SESAC (Society of European Stage Authors and Composers)
In Canada, our service covers:
SOCAN (Society of Composers, Authors, and Music Publishers of Canada)
Re:Sound
This comprehensive coverage means you do not need to contact these organizations directly or pay additional fees to obtain individual licenses for these PROs. We handle it all on your behalf, ensuring you are fully compliant with music licensing laws.
However, please note that certain use cases within a business require additional licensing.
What About Songs from Independent PROs?
Our catalog does not include songs from smaller PROs, like AllTrack, which focus on independent creators. This means that you won’t have to worry about acquiring separate licenses for music represented by these independent PROs, as their catalogs are not part of our service. We focus exclusively on providing music covered by the major PROs in the US and Canada.
Personal Streaming Services Are Not Licensed for Business Use
It’s important to note that personal streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music are not licensed for commercial or public use. These platforms are designed for private, personal use only, and using them to play music in a business setting is against their terms of service and may result in fines or penalties.
Unlike a personal streaming service, Pandora CloudCover is specifically licensed for public performance in business environments, which means you’re fully covered under our subscription without needing to worry about copyright issues or licensing violations.
Certain Use Cases Require Additional Licensing
Pandora CloudCover provides full public performance licensing for background music in most business settings. However, there are specific use cases that may require additional licensing or are not covered under our standard background music subscription. These include:
Music played in establishments that charge an admission fee (e.g., theme parks, nightclubs, skating rinks).
Music played during instructed fitness classes (e.g., dance studios, spin classes, step, yoga, aerobics, or any class where music is a core part of instruction).
Music from live bands, karaoke, or DJs in your establishment.
These types of uses typically fall outside of the scope of background music licensing and may require separate agreements with the PROs directly.
What This Means for Your Business
By subscribing to Pandora CloudCover:
You have peace of mind knowing that the music played in your business is fully licensed for public performance.
You are legally protected from potential fines or legal actions related to unauthorized music use.
You simplify your licensing obligations and save on the cost and complexity of dealing with multiple organizations and licenses.
We believe in supporting the artists and creators behind the music that enhances your business atmosphere. By including public performance licensing in our subscription, we ensure that composers, songwriters, and music publishers are fairly compensated for their work.
Our goal is to make background music as easy, enjoyable, and worry-free as possible for business owners. With Pandora CloudCover, you can confidently play music from a wide variety of genres, knowing that all necessary public performance licenses are covered and up to date.
If you have further questions about music licensing or the specifics of our coverage, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our support team. We're here to help!