ASCAP, BMI, SESAC and GMR vs Melodial: US Business Music Compared

Fully licensed background music for your US business, without four separate PRO fees. In the US, playing music in your business can require licenses from up to four Performing Rights Organizations, the US performing rights organizations (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and GMR), each charging separately. None of them provide the music. Melodial includes both the music and the license in one US$6.99 per month subscription.

ASCAP, BMI, SESAC and GMR vs Melodial: what you actually pay

Business type	PRO fees + music source (per year)	Melodial (per year)
Small retail store (under 2,000 sq ft)	US$1,200+	US$69.99
Restaurant or café (under 3,000 sq ft)	US$2,500+	US$69.99
Hair or beauty salon	US$800+	US$69.99
Gym or fitness studio (recorded music, classes)	US$2,000 to US$5,000+	US$69.99

PRO fees vary by business type, size and music use, and each of the four PROs charges separately. Totals shown include a typical separate music streaming subscription.

You save hundreds to thousands of dollars per year depending on your business type.

How can Melodial skip the PROs?

The PROs collect license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, publishers, record labels and performers. If you play music from their catalogues, which includes virtually all mainstream music, you pay their fees.

Melodial is a completely different model. Melodial owns or directly licenses every track in its catalogue, and none of the music is registered with the PROs or any other collecting society. No royalties to collect means no license fees to pay. Your Melodial subscription is your license: the music and the right to play it commercially, all in one payment.

Certificate of Compliance included. Download a PDF from your account that proves your music is fully licensed. If the PROs or any licensing body contacts you, show them the certificate. If they push further, forward Melodial their email and the team will draft the response.

The three rights you need to play music commercially

Recording rights, the right to stream a specific sound recording: covered by Melodial. Publishing rights, the right to stream the composition and lyrics: covered by Melodial. Public performance rights, the right to play music in a commercial environment: covered by Melodial.

Which one do you actually need?

A license from the PROs covers almost all commercial music, the songs you hear on the radio, but the music itself is not included. You need it if you play chart hits, radio, TV or host live cover bands. Melodial is the all-in-one subscription: music and commercial license in one payment. Choose it if you want curated atmosphere music at a fixed price and believe your venue deserves better than random radio.

Feature by feature

Feature	Melodial	The PROs
Music included	Yes	No, license only
Commercial license included	Yes	Yes
Pricing	US$6.99 per month, flat (US$13.99 per month on Plus, per stream)	Varies by size, type and tier
Annual audits or reporting	None	May be required
Certificate of Compliance	Yes, instant download	No
Mobile app (iOS and Android)	Yes	No
AI voice announcements	Yes	No
No explicit lyrics	Guaranteed	Depends on your music source
Cancel anytime	Yes	Typically an annual commitment

What happens if you play unlicensed music?

In the US there is no single “fee” for getting caught. The PROs sue for copyright infringement in federal court. Statutory damages run from US$750 to US$30,000 per song, and up to US$150,000 per song if the infringement is willful, plus the rights holders’ attorneys’ fees, under the US Copyright Act. See the full breakdown of penalties in the US.

Already paying for Spotify or Apple Music? It does not cover commercial use. Their terms prohibit playing music in a business, and even with a paid subscription you would still need a license from the PROs on top. Melodial replaces both.

Businesses worldwide already use Melodial. Rage, a retail chain with more than 650 locations, reported that Melodial music boosted turnover by 2.5% based on their internal research.

Frequently asked questions

Is Melodial a legal alternative to the PROs in the US?

Yes. Melodial owns or directly licenses every track, and none of the catalogue is registered with any collecting society, so no society has authority to collect fees on it. Your subscription is your license.

Can I cancel my existing PRO license?

Yes, as long as you play Melodial exclusively and stop playing any other commercially released music such as radio, CDs or Spotify. Download your Certificate of Compliance first, then cancel.

What is the catch?

You can only play Melodial music. If you also play mainstream radio, Spotify or CDs, you still need a license from the PROs for that music.

Does a license from one PRO cover the others?

No. Each PRO represents a different catalog, so a BMI license does not protect you from ASCAP, SESAC or GMR claims. That is why traditional US licensing stacks up to four separate fees.