The guide
Background music licensed directly from the rightsholder — for your venue
Most countries require a licence from one or more collecting societies to play recorded music in a commercial space. Tonarch's works are licensed directly from the rightsholder and are not registered with any collecting society in any territory. Whether that removes a fee in your country depends on local law, and we have not reviewed every market — confirm your own position locally before cancelling any existing licence. Note: we do not offer this licence in Germany, Switzerland or Austria. In France it removes the SACEM (composition/publishing) component only; neighbouring-rights bodies such as SPRE may still apply and are outside the scope of this certificate. You remain responsible for any other music you play.
What you pay today
Today, playing music in a venue usually means fees to one or more collecting societies:
- your local collecting societies
A Tonarch licence from €349 / year per location — one predictable fee, anchored to what you pay now.
Savings calculator
What you pay today — vs one Tonarch licence
Estimates based on the societies' published tariff structures for a mid-size venue; actual fees vary by tariff class, municipality and negotiation — verify with the society. Not an offer, not legal advice.
The legal basis of direct licensing
Collecting-society fees apply to works within those societies' repertoire. When the rightsholder grants a direct licence and the works are registered with no society, no society royalties arise from playing them publicly. That is the model Tonarch operates on.
The inspection scenario
If anyone asks what you are playing, you present your Tonarch License Certificate — issued to your venue by name and address — together with the repertoire annex listing every track. The certificate names the rightsholder and confirms the works sit outside society repertoire.
FAQ
- Does this remove my collecting-society fee?
- Collecting-society fees apply to the repertoire those societies administer. Tonarch music is licensed directly and is registered with no society in any territory. Whether that affects any fee in your country depends on local law — including any extended-collective-licensing or statutory-remuneration scheme, which is not something we warrant against. Confirm your own position before cancelling any existing licence. You remain responsible for any other music you play.
- What do I show if I'm inspected?
- Your License Certificate, issued to your venue by name and address, plus the repertoire annex listing every track. Both are delivered the moment you buy and can be printed or shown on screen.
- Am I buying files or a right?
- You are buying the right to play the listed works publicly in one named location. Files are delivered, but the product is the ongoing right plus the documentation. If the licence ends, the right ends.
- Annual or lifetime?
- Annual and renewable by default. A lifetime licence is available for buyers who prefer not to subscribe (3.5× the annual price).
This market's certificate wording is pending local legal review.
Informational, not legal advice. Tonarch music is licensed directly from the rightsholder and is not registered with any collecting society or performing-rights organisation, so no collecting-society fees arise from playback of the Tonarch repertoire. This does not cover any other music played at your premises — radio, television, streaming services, live performance or staff playlists all remain your responsibility and may require a licence. Confirm the requirements for your own situation.