Melodial Legal: No Public Performance or Music Licensing Fees Needed
Melodial’s 100% Public License Free Music Model
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All Music Fully Owned
Melodial is a music service for businesses where every track is fully owned and produced in-house. There are no covers or third-party songs in the catalogue – only original music created by Melodial. This means the company holds all the necessary rights to the music and does not rely on outside rights holders or record labels. Because Melodial owns the copyright in all its tracks, it can grant you permission to play them in public without involving any external licensing bodies or collecting societies¹. In short, When you subscribe to Melodial, you are granted a blanket public performance licence to play Melodial’s music within your business premises for the duration of your active subscription. This licence covers all necessary rights for public performance, background music, and in-store ambience for your business.
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Designed for Legal Peace of Mind
Unlike personal streaming platforms or typical music sources, Melodial was built specifically to avoid licensing headaches. When you press play on a Melodial station, you’re not just getting great music – you’re also getting a direct license from Melodial to use that music in your store, restaurant, gym, or other venue. There’s no need to track songs, report usage, or pay royalties to any third party. Melodial’s in-house ownership of music eliminates the need for public performance licenses or any performing rights fees, giving you complete legal peace of mind.
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The Cost of Non-Compliance
If a business plays copyrighted music without the proper license, it’s violating copyright law and risks severe penalties. Copyright laws allow for statutory damages that can range from $750 up to $30,000 per song played without permission – and up to $150,000 per song if the infringement is found to be willful. These fines are per track, so the costs can add up astronomically if multiple songs are involved. For example, courts have ordered businesses to pay tens of thousands of dollars for just a handful of songs played without a license. Clearly, traditional music licensing is not something to ignore – which is why most businesses either pay PRO fees or use Melodial to stay on the right side of the law.
United States (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC): If a U.S. restaurant or store uses Melodial exclusively, it does not need ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, or any other PRO license. Melodial has effectively taken care of the “public performance right” by owning the music and giving you direct permission to use it.
United Kingdom (PRS for Music & PPL): With Melodial, no PRS or PPL payments are necessary – as Melodial is granting you permission to play it's catalogue, so no UK royalties are owed when you use it. You can play Melodial in your shop or venue and be assured you’re not infringing anyone’s rights or owing fees to PPL or PRS.
Australia (APRA AMCOS): If an Australian restaurant or store uses Melodial exclusively, it does not need an APRA AMCOS license. Melodial has effectively taken care of the "public performance right" by owning the music and giving you direct permission to use it. With Melodial, no APRA AMCOS payments are necessary – as Melodial is granting you permission to play its catalogue, so no Australian royalties are owed when you use it. You can play Melodial in your shop or venue and be assured you're not infringing anyone's rights or owing fees to APRA AMCO.
Netherlands (Buma/Stemra): If a Dutch restaurant or store uses Melodial exclusively, it does not need a Buma/Stemra license. Melodial has effectively taken care of the "public performance right" by owning the music and giving you direct permission to use it. With Melodial, no Buma/Stemra payments are necessary – as Melodial is granting you permission to play its catalogue, so no Dutch royalties are owed when you use it. You can play Melodial in your shop or venue and be assured you're not infringing anyone's rights or owing fees to Buma/Stemra.
Canada (SOCAN & Re:Sound): Melodial users in Canada do NOT need to pay SOCAN or Re:Sound. Melodial’s music is original and not affiliated with those organizations, so no public performance fees are owed when you use Melodial in your business.
Germany (GEMA & GVL): Melodial users in Germany can skip both GEMA and GVL licenses. Because Melodial’s catalog is wholly owned and not affiliated with GEMA/GVL, no German public performance fees are owed when you use Melodial in your business. You are effectively granted all necessary rights directly through Melodial’s service, keeping you in full compliance with German copyright law without separate GEMA/GVL payments.
How Melodial Legally Eliminates Licensing Fees
Direct Licensing of Music: Melodial’s approach removes the middlemen (the PROs and other licensing agencies) entirely. Because Melodial holds the copyrights to all its music, it can directly authorize your business to play the music. In essence, when you stream music from Melodial, you have permission straight from the copyright owner (Melodial) to perform that music publicly. This means no additional public performance license is required from APRA, ASCAP, BMI, or any other PRO. There are no hidden costs or legal hoops to jump through – one Melodial account is all you need to legally play music in your commercial space.
Compliance, Coverage & Certification for Users
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Fully Covered – Guaranteed
When you use Melodial in your business, you can rest easy knowing you’re 100% covered in terms of music licensing. Every track is created for commercial use and comes with all necessary rights for public performance already bundled in. You will not get in trouble with any copyright agency or collecting society, because there are no unauthorized songs being played. This certificate can be kept on file at your business as tangible assurance that you are in compliance with music copyright laws.
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Use Melodial – Avoid Illegal Streaming in Business
It’s important to note that Melodial’s legal benefits apply only when you are using Melodial’s music platform. If you step outside of Melodial and play other music (for example, using a personal Spotify playlist or turning on the radio), your business would once again be subject to public performance licensing rules and fees.
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Melodial vs. Personal Streaming
By using Melodial, you avoid this legal gray area entirely. You don’t have to worry about whether your Spotify account might get shut down or if an inspector will walk in and ask for your music license. Melodial was created as a solution to the problem of illegal streaming in businesses – it gives you a legal, hassle-free alternative.