Music Licence for Restaurants, Hotels & Events

Yes, a personal streaming subscription does not cover playing music to customers. The app’s terms limit it to personal, non-commercial use. Playing the same songs in a restaurant, gym or shop is a communication to the public under the Copyright Act, 1957, and needs licences for both the composition and the sound recording. We check whether any business music service you use already includes licences, so you never pay twice.

They cover two separate copyrights in the same song. IPRS, a registered copyright society, licenses the musical and literary work, meaning the composition and lyrics, on behalf of composers, lyricists and publishers. The sound recording licence covers the actual recorded track and comes from the label, its agent or a registered society for recordings. A venue playing recorded music usually needs both. A live band covering songs needs only the first.

No, music at a wedding is exempt. Section 52(1)(za) of the Copyright Act allows performance of works and sound recordings in a bona fide religious ceremony, and its explanation says a religious ceremony includes a marriage procession and other social festivities associated with a marriage. Corporate events, ticketed concerts and New Year parties at a banquet hall are not covered. For those, the organiser or venue needs a licence, which we can arrange.

There is no government fee; the licensor sets the tariff. IPRS and the sound recording licensors publish tariffs that depend on the type of venue, its area or seating, the hours of music and whether it is background, DJ or live. Event tariffs depend on attendance and ticket price. We get the exact figure computed for your outlet before you commit, so there are no surprises at renewal.

No, PPL is not currently registered under Section 33. It was registered from 1996 to 2014, gave up registration when re-registration became mandatory, and now licenses as an owner or agent. Whether such licences are lawful as a business was examined in PPL v Azure Hospitality, and the Supreme Court stayed the Delhi High Court’s direction in April 2025. Because the position is still evolving, we check it afresh before advising you.

Usually yes, if the music or broadcast is played for customers in the business. The Copyright Act has no general exemption for small outlets, so a café playing film songs from a TV channel or FM radio is still communicating works to the public. Tariffs for small venues are lower than for large ones. Tell us the area, seating and how music is played, and we will tell you exactly what you need.

Don’t ignore it, but don’t pay before checking who sent it. Check that the sender owns or lawfully represents the music you actually played, which is the core issue in the Section 33 cases. Then take the correct licence for the future and negotiate any past period. Legal notices and court replies are signed by a practising advocate; we organise the paperwork and coordinate with them so the matter closes quickly.

Yes, licences are issued per venue, because tariffs are calculated on each outlet’s area, seating and music use. A chain with five cafés across Faridabad, Gurugram and Delhi needs a licence for each, though some licensors offer a single agreement covering all locations. We maintain one tracker for the whole chain, so every outlet’s licence is current and renewed on time.