To play music and display images in your business:
When playing music and displaying images in public spaces, outside of a private setting, you must consider the fees you need to pay for playing “protected music and images.” The parties that collect these fees are Buma, Sena, and Videma. These organizations collect the rights on behalf of the rights holders they represent (composers, lyricists, performers, record labels, broadcasters, and film producers).
Music
There are two types of permissions you need to play music in a commercial and public space.
- Commercial Streaming Rights / Handled by Xenox
Suppliers of background music systems for business use, such as Xenox, have contracts with rights organizations and individual rights holders. Xenox pays the rights fees as the supplier for the recording and distribution of music and images. Additionally, we value music and believe that musicians and performers should receive fair compensation. Through our agreements with rights holders, we ensure they are paid accordingly.
- Public Performance Rights / Must be applied for by you
In addition to the rights for recording and distribution handled by Xenox, as a business owner, you also need a license from local rights organizations to play music in a public space. You must apply for this license yourself with the rights organization in the country where you are based, and you will pay an annual fee to use the entire world music repertoire. In the Netherlands, these are Buma (commonly known as Buma/Stemra) for music authors, and Sena for performing artists and record producers. In Belgium, you can contact Unisono and SIMIM. The amount of the fees is usually determined based on the square footage of the area where the music is played.
In the Netherlands, you can apply through the website www.mijnlicentie.nl
Vizuals
If you offer TV shows or music videos to your guests in your café or restaurant, the law requires that you obtain permission from the rights holders of the TV shows and/or music videos. With a license from Videma, you can handle this all at once. The fees that Videma collects annually from business users are distributed to the TV producers.
Live Sports Events
ESPN: If you want to broadcast live (football) matches from ESPN in your hospitality business, you need a license from ESPN Business. Note: ESPN is not covered by the Videma license.
Viaplay: If you want to broadcast live sports events from Viaplay in your hospitality business, such as Formula 1, you need a license from Viaplay for commercial TV use. Note: This is not included in your Videma license.
Good to Know
Xenox is a member of ABMD: The trade association for professional suppliers of background music systems. All members of ABMD have committed to a code of conduct established within the association. This code of conduct ensures, among other things, that customers doing business with an ABMD member can expect to be treated fairly, receive a high-quality product, and enjoy optimal service. Want to know more? Visit www.abmd.nl.