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Collecting societies vs Melodial

A collecting-society licence pays for the right to play music in your venue, not for the music: the fee follows the size and type of your business, and the music comes from somewhere else, with its own bill. Melodial is $6.99 a month per location, and that one subscription is the music and the licence, with your Music Licence Certificate from day one.

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A society licence vs Melodial, side by side

Society licence Melodial
What you pay for The right to play music The music and the right to play it
How the price is set An annual fee by venue size, type and use, set by each society One price per location: $6.99 a month, or $5.83 a month billed yearly
Music included No: it comes from elsewhere, with its own bill Yes: Melodial's own catalogue, written for venues
Number of bills One per society; some countries have two or three One
Covers radio, Spotify, TV, CDs, live music Yes, by its terms No: only music played through Melodial
Scheduling and announcements Not part of a licence Melodial Plus, $13.99
Music Licence Certificate Varies by society Yes, from day one
Free trial No 14 days, no card

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Two ways to play music legally

The usual way: take out a licence with your local collecting society, which covers the right to play the music in its repertoire, and then pay for the music itself through a business streaming service or a music supplier. Two or three bills, and the licence fee rises with the size of your venue.

The Melodial way: one subscription that is the music and the right to play it. Melodial owns every track it plays, so there is no society repertoire involved and nothing for a society to collect for. One price per location, whatever the size of the room.

Do I still need a collecting-society licence?

Not for the music you play through Melodial. Melodial owns every track outright, is not a member of any collecting society, and none of the catalogue is in any society's repertoire.

Your subscription is your licence, and your Music Licence Certificate is available from day one. If a society contacts you anyway, forward the letter to support@melodial.com within 14 days and we deal with them for you.

Other music (radio, Spotify, TV, CDs) is not covered.

Frequently asked questions

Which collecting societies does this apply to?
All of them. Melodial is not a member of any collecting society, and none of its catalogue is in any society's repertoire. Your certificate names your country and your venue.
What about music from other sources?
Radio, Spotify, TV, CDs and live performers are not covered by Melodial. If you play those, a society licence is still needed for them.
Can I switch mid-contract?
Society licences usually run for a year. You can start Melodial's 14-day free trial now, with no card, and let the licence lapse at its renewal.

Hear it in your venue today.

$6.99 a month, licence included. 14 days free, full catalogue, no card.

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