Music in the canteen: what is allowed and what does it cost?
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Does a canteen need a music licence?
Music belongs in a welcoming canteen — whether it is a sports canteen at the football club, a staff canteen or your association's clubroom. But as soon as more people than just your own staff are present (think of members, visitors or guests), a music licence is required. This sounds more complicated than it is. With an affordable music solution such as Backsound (€34.95 per month) and a simple public performance licence via mijnlicentie.nl, you are up and running legally — and it costs less than many organisations think.
Short answer: yes, almost certainly.
As soon as music is performed in public — which means that at least one person outside your immediate household or team hears it — you need permission from the copyright organisations (in the Netherlands: Buma/Stemra for songs, Sena for nightclub rights and performance rights).
This applies to:
– Sports canteens (football club, tennis club, darts club, etc.)
– Staff canteens or break rooms (used by employees)
– Volunteer associations
– All public or semi-public spaces
Exception: Only if you play music in a completely private setting for your family or immediate household do you not need a licence. As soon as you have guests, it counts as a public performance.
Why is this compulsory?
Songwriters and music producers have rights to their work. Without a licence they receive no payment. This system protects artists and creatives.
About the author — Daniël, founder & CEO Backsound
Daniël is the founder and CEO of Backsound and has more than Active since 2003 with legal music solutions for businesses, from hospitality to canteens. More about our team.
Versatile platform
BACKSOUND FEATURES
Music enhances the experience
Music plays a crucial role in the atmosphere and experience of your space. It influences your customers’ mood and contributes to a positive experience. Whether it is relaxed background music or energetic tracks, the right music makes the difference. With Backsound you choose a carefully tuned music selection that perfectly matches your brand and target audience.
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What does it cost to play music in a sports canteen or staff canteen?
The licence costs
For a canteen, the cost of a public performance licence is fairly low compared with larger businesses:
– Small sports canteens (up to ~100 members): €50–€150 per year
– Staff canteens (small businesses): €100–€300 per year
– Larger organisations: may be higher
These amounts are estimates; the exact price depends on:
– Number of expected visitors
– Hours per week that music is played
– Type of space (indoor vs. open air)
You arrange this via mijnlicentie.nl — there you can request a quote and apply for the licence directly.
The music service (subscription)
You get the music itself from a professional service, not Spotify or YouTube (these are prohibited for business use). A good option is Backsound:
– Own PC Package: €34.95/month (software on your computer)
– Full Package: €39.95/month (incl. free Windows 11 mini PC)
This gives you access to millions of tracks, automatic playlists, offline playback and full legal protection.
Total per year for a small canteen:
– Backsound subscription: €419–€479/year
– Public performance licence: ~€75–€200/year
– Total: €500–€680/year
That is good value for what you get: a professional music service + legal certainty + support.
Which music solution suits a canteen?
For canteens, a solution such as Backsound is ideal because:
1. It is affordable
At €34.95/month it is considerably cheaper than enterprise sound systems. For small organisations and volunteer associations, this is realistic.
2. Easy to use
You do not need to be an IT wizard. A computer or Backsound's free Windows mini PC, a speaker, and you are ready to go.
3. Truly offline
If your internet connection drops for a moment (which happens more often in canteens), the music does not stop. This prevents inconvenience.
4. Flexible playlists
With the AI Playlist Generator from Backsound you can automatically generate playlists by genre, mood or tempo. For a canteen you might want:
– Relaxed background music during the day
– A bit more energy on Friday evening
– Specific songs for special events
5. Remote & Request App (free)
Your guests can request songs via the app (if you allow it). This feels sociable and interactive — perfect for a canteen.
6. 24/7 Support
If something does not work, you can call: 088-425 9888. For a volunteer organisation, that is reassuring.
7. Professional handling of rights
You work with a supplier (Backsound) that knows how public performance licences work. This gives you certainty.
A fixed price per month
OUR PRICES
The complete package for business owners who want to get the most out of their music experience — including hardware, software, apps and service.
- Free Windows 11 mini PC with screen
- Up and running within 24 hours
- Unlimited choice of music from millions of songs
- Keeps working if the internet goes down
Show more features
- Radio mix & crossfade
- Radio channels
- DJ function
- Remote App
- Request App
- Image and photo function
- Multiroom
- Very easy to operate
- Schedule planning
- Full service & 24/7 online helpdesk
- On-Site Fault Service
- Updates & maintenance included
- Spotify Import Tool
- AI Playlist Generator
All the benefits of the Full Package, but on your own computer or media player.
- Full Backsound software on your own PC
- Up and running within 24 hours
- Unlimited choice of music from millions of songs
- Keeps working if the internet goes down
Show more features
- Radio mix & crossfade
- Radio channels
- DJ function
- Remote App
- Request App
- Image and photo function
- Multiroom
- Very easy to operate
- Schedule planning
- Full service & 24/7 online helpdesk
- On-Site Fault Service
- Updates & maintenance included
- Spotify Import Tool
- AI Playlist Generator
Can we use Spotify in our canteen?
No. Spotify is for private use only. As soon as you play it in a canteen, business premises or club venue where guests can hear it, you are breaching the terms of use and copyright. Fines from Buma/Stemra may follow.
How much do we pay if we do not have a licence?
Buma/Stemra can carry out follow-up checks. Fines for unauthorised music performance range from a few hundred to several thousand euros, depending on the size and duration of the infringement. It is much more economical to simply operate legally.
Can Backsound also play music through our existing speakers?
Yes. You simply connect a computer (or Backsound's mini PC) to your current sound system. Backsound is flexible and works with almost any speaker or system.
Customer satisfaction
REVIEWS
Alexander Groth★★★★★3 months agoAl best wel wat muziek systemen gehad (o.a. Xenox en DDJ (impaqt media) maar de veelzijdigheid van dit systeem laat weinig te wensen over. Support vanuit Backsound is in een woord: "super!". Vraag gewoon een demo aan. (Oh, ja niet duur. Volgens mij de goedkoopste in deze markt. )
Sandra Steneker★★★★★5 months agoHele goede service en uitleg
Ralph Mudde★★★★★5 months agoPerfect, Jonathan heeft op locatie een demo van het systeem gegeven waarbij alle functionaliteiten duidelijk en uitgebreid werden uitgelegd. Alle tijd werd genomen voor onze vragen. Uiteindelijk besloten om het systeem aan te schaffen. Wat dan helemaal mooi is dat het direct wordt geinstalleerd en nogmaals wordt uitgelegd op onze muziekinstallatie. Een dikke 10 voor Jonathan en het Backsound team !
Bas Raaijmakers★★★★★5 months agoPrima uitleg vriendelijke jongen
GMP Totaal★★★★★5 months agoJonathan van Backsound is bij ons langs gekomen en na een goede uitleg van het mooie muzieksysteem hebben wij ook besloten om bij ons huidige leverancier weg te gaan. Belangrijk, overzichtelijker, sneller en tot slot ook niet onbelangrijk hij is aanzienlijk goedkoper. Bedankt namens Bar Haagsche Hout
Bertha Peters★★★★★6 months agoFantische medewerker, heel veel werk aangehad. Dank je wel voor de snelle levering van de nieuwe muziek installatie
Hans ten Berge★★★★★7 months agoTof familiebedrijf! Mensen die weten waarover ze praten en meedenken in mogelijkheden.
Bas Kortekaas★★★★★9 months agoGeweldige service. Vriendelijke jongens. Wat ons betreft een aanrader. Hulp bij het instaleren en geen twijfel om ons te onder steunen. Dus hebt je hulp nodig bel deze mannen.
Aneta Van Der lans★★★★★11 months ago
Zabella Van veen★★★★★11 months agoSnelle service! Super fijn
Miranda Laros★★★★★11 months agoWat een top bedrijf. Staan je altijd te woord en denken zeer zeker met je mee . Top bedrijf 👍🏼
Jasper Hemersma★★★★★1 year agoGoede betrouwbare partner!
Marcel Beerkens★★★★★1 year agoGoede snelle services bij de defecte pc. Werd snel te woord gestaan op zaterdagochtend. Probleem werd meteen online verholpen. Klasse
Johan Dieke★★★★★1 year ago
Melanie Wopereis★★★★★1 year ago
Roman Rutjens★★★★★1 year agoTop ervaring met Backsound. Zeer professioneel van ter plaatse komen om de situatie te bekijken, snelle offerte en snelle montage! Backoffice ziet er goed uit en ik ben blij dat ik het hele systeem nu bekabeld heb zodat er altijd muziek speelt in iedere ruimte!
Esmee Verheij★★★★★1 year agoGeweldige service! Een echte aanrader voor elke horecaondernemer!
Woodstreet 4★★★★★1 year agoGoede service. Gebruiksvriendelijk systeem
José Verhaagen★★★★★1 year agoTop service van Daniël van BackSound. Super fijn dat wij nu in alle ruimtes gevarieerde muziek kunnen beluisteren. Wij blij klant blij! Zeker een aanrader! De Verzorgerij in Harderwijk.
Contact Backsound
A music licence for your canteen is simple and affordable with Backsound (€34.95/month) and a public performance licence via mijnlicentie.nl. That way you create a welcoming place with professional music and complete legal certainty. Get in touch and get started straight away.