How much does it cost to play music in your shop or hospitality business? Buma/Stemra and Sena rates explained

What is Buma/Stemra and why do I have to pay for it?

Music in your shop or hospitality business is not free. Since 2023 you cannot simply play Spotify or YouTube in your business — you have two kinds of costs: (1) a music service or hardware to play music and (2) mandatory licences (Buma/Stemra and Sena) so that artists get paid. This article explains exactly what you pay and why.

Buma/Stemra is a Dutch organisation that manages music rights. When you play music in your shop, restaurant or café, that music is being performed in public. The composers, lyricists and publishers of that music are entitled to be paid for it — and Buma/Stemra takes care of that.

This is mandatory. As soon as you play music to customers, guests or more than two employees, you must apply for a Buma/Stemra licence. The costs vary depending on:

– Type of business (shop, restaurant, office, etc.)
– Size of the space (how big your premises are)
– Number of employees
– How often you play music

For example, a shop of 100 square metres with 5 employees pays around €340–360 per year for Buma/Stemra. A café of 50 square metres can easily come to €1,300–1,400 per year. You can find the exact rates via Buma/Stemra’s rate tool or apply for them via mijnlicentie.nl.

What is Sena and why is it separate from Buma/Stemra?

Sena is a different organisation, but it also manages music rights — specifically the neighbouring rights of performers (musicians, orchestras) and phonogram producers (records).

While Buma/Stemra pays composers and lyricists, Sena makes sure that musicians and record companies get their share too. Sena licences are also mandatory if you play music in your business.

Sena’s costs depend on the same factors as Buma/Stemra’s:
– Size of the space
– Audience size
– Type of business
– How often music is played

You arrange both licences at the same time via mijnlicentie.nl — you don’t have to do it separately.

Roughly how much do Buma/Stemra and Sena licences cost?

The exact amounts vary widely, but here are some examples (per year, including the 33% discount for businesses that register themselves):

These are indicative prices — you get a precise quote after entering your business details on Buma/Stemra’s website or Sena’s website.

Please note: you pay for these licences once a year and renew them every year.

Is this already included in a business music service?

No — and this is crucial to understand. If you use a music service such as Backsound (subscription €34.95 or €39.95 per month), Backsound takes care of the music itself: the software, the hardware and the songs.

But Buma/Stemra and Sena licences are NOT included. You have to apply for these and pay for them yourself via mijnlicentie.nl. Backsound states this clearly itself: “The business owner remains responsible for the public performance licence.”

This can be confusing. Here is an overview of what you pay:

In other words, your total monthly costs are:

– Backsound subscription: €34.95–39.95/month (about €420–480/year)
– Buma/Stemra + Sena: €340–1,400+/year (depending on the type of business)
– Total: €760–1,880+ per year

In conclusion: step by step to legal music in your business

1. Choose a music service – Backsound is a popular choice (€34.95–39.95/month)
2. Calculate your Buma/Stemra + Sena costs – Use the calculator on mijnlicentie.nl
3. Apply for the licences – Also via mijnlicentie.nl; both at the same time
4. Pay your subscription – Backsound or a similar service
5. Done! – Legal music that pays artists and protects you

Sources

– Buma/Stemra: Rate tool and information
– Sena: Rate tool and information
– mijnlicentie.nl: Licence application platform
– MKB Servicedesk: Legal guide to music licences
– Backsound: Music service for business customers

Contact Backsound

Music licences don’t have to be complicated. Backsound provides the right music in your shop or hospitality business (€34.95–39.95/month), while you arrange the mandatory Buma/Stemra and Sena licences yourself via mijnlicentie.nl. With both in order, you have legal, professional background music that your customers appreciate and that pays artists fairly. Would you like to know more about how Backsound can provide your business with the perfect music experience?

See also

• Royalty-free music in your shop
• View our prices
• Can I use Spotify in my café, restaurant or shop?