Trusted by thousands of businesses
What Music Licensing Actually Is
Playing music in your business, any business, is considered a public performance under US and Canadian copyright law. That means you need a license for every song you play.
These licenses ensure artists, songwriters, and publishers receive payment every time you use their work. We handle all of it, so you don’t have to.
Six Licensing Organizations.
One Subscription.
- In the United States: ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and GMR each represent different catalogs of songwriters and publishers. No single organization covers every artist, so most businesses need coverage from all four.
- In Canada: SOCAN covers songwriters and publishers, while Re:Sound covers performers and record labels. Canadian businesses need both.
- The problem: Six separate agreements, six bills, six renewal dates, and no margin for gaps. Miss one, and you’re exposed.
We cover all six. We fully license every song you stream through Custom Channels.
What Happens If You Don't License Your Music
Using personal accounts like Spotify or Apple Music in a business setting violates their terms of service and constitutes copyright infringement.
- Fines up to $150,000 per song. US copyright law allows statutory damages ranging from $750 to $150,000 per work for willful infringement.
- Public record. Anyone can search court filings, and licensing organizations regularly publish enforcement actions.
- Active enforcement. PROs send investigators to bars, restaurants, gyms, and retail stores. They take notes on what’s playing and follow up with demand letters, sometimes years later.
How Custom Channels Handles It All
One subscription replaces the hassle of managing six separate agreements. Here’s what you get.
- Every major license covered. ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and GMR in the US. SOCAN and Re:Sound in Canada.
- One simple monthly fee. Transparent pricing. No per-song costs, no per-PRO fees, no hidden charges.
- All the paperwork, handled. We manage reporting, compliance documentation, and every communication with licensing organizations directly, so you never lift a finger.
- We pay artists fairly. We report usage and pay out to the PROs, who distribute royalties to the songwriters, publishers, performers, and labels behind the music you play.
Consumer vs Business
Music Services
| Features | Consumer Services (e.g. Spotify) |  |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed for business use | No | Yes |
| ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, GMR coverage (US) | No | Yes |
| SOCAN + Re:Sound coverage (Canada) | No | Yes |
| Risk of fines or legal action | High | None |
| Ad-free playback | No | Yes |
| Explicit content filtered | No | Yes |
| Playlists curated for business | No | Yes |
| Multi-zone and multi-location control | No | Yes |
| Scheduling and dayparting | No | Yes |
Got a Letter From a Licensing Agency?
You're not alone. US music licensing agencies, including ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, GMR, and newer entrants like ALLTRACK, have been actively reaching out to businesses across the country, demanding separate licensing agreements and citing copyright damages of up to $150,000 per song.
These letters are usually legitimate, not scams. But you have options.
What the letters typically say
- · Claim your business does not have a license for their catalog
- · Cite US copyright law and statutory damages of $750 to $150,000 per work
- · Request an immediate DocuSign signature, payment, or rate schedule
- · GMR reps follow up with aggressive phone calls
What you need to know
- · The agencies sending these letters are real Performing Rights Organizations
- · You do not have to sign their specific agreement to become compliant
- · A fully licensed music service covers every major US PRO (plus Canadian PROs SOCAN and Re:Sound) in one subscription
- · Custom Channels already covers you — no action needed
Already a Custom Channels customer? You're set. Just reply to the agency letting them know Custom Channels licenses your business music.
Not a customer? Let's talk.Related reading: What to do about an ASCAP letter · ALLTRACK, explained
