Background music licensing in United States
Directly licensed business music for US commercial spaces.
Use Sonosfera music in your business with an active plan and a Music Use Certificate for your venue. Other music sources need separate permissions.
$14.99 a month, per location.Save what you'd pay ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, or GMR for background music, when you play only Sonosfera.
Local licensing route
- BMI
Sonosfera is not affiliated with these organisations. These links are provided so businesses can compare the traditional route with Sonosfera’s catalogue-specific certificate route.
Official resources
Reference the local licensing bodies directly.
- ASCAPOpen official website
- BMIOpen official website
- SESACOpen official website
- GMROpen official website
Local licensing route · ASCAP / BMI / SESAC / GMR
ASCAP, BMI, SESAC and Global Music Rights license works in their respective repertoires. Your Sonosfera subscription covers Sonosfera catalogue playback under an active plan.
Compare and choose
Choose the route that matches what you actually play.
Sonosfera business music
What it is: An all-in-one business music product for the Sonosfera catalogue, player, and proof workflow.
Browse musicSonosfera catalogue route
- You need this if
- You want fixed-cost background music, a calmer business soundtrack, and certificate proof for Sonosfera playback.
- How it works
- Start a plan, use Sonosfera playlists during business hours, and generate certificate proof when the account is eligible.
Explore Sonosfera playlists now
Hear the kind of background music your certificate is built around.
Browse calm, premium, and venue-friendly tracks before choosing a plan. The certificate is proof for Sonosfera catalogue playback, so the music and the paperwork stay connected.
Traditional licence route
What it is: A route for mainstream commercial repertoire and sources beyond Sonosfera.
ASCAP / BMI / SESAC / GMR
- You need this if
- You play chart tracks, radio, TV, live cover bands, DJs, or music from outside the Sonosfera catalogue.
- How it works
- Fees and rules usually depend on business type, venue size, locations, and how music is used.
How Sonosfera keeps the music scope clear
One catalogue, one player, one proof trail for Sonosfera playback.
Traditional licensing can cover chart music, radio, TV, and live acts. Sonosfera is different: it keeps the claim tied to the Sonosfera catalogue and gives your team a cleaner way to play business music.
- Recording rightsSonosfera catalogueSonosfera controls the sound recordings in its catalogue.
- Publishing rightsSonosfera catalogueThe compositions are handled inside the Sonosfera catalogue rights stack.
- Public playback proofCertificate-readyYour Sonosfera Music Use Certificate is your proof if ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, or GMR asks.
- Catalogue proof for Sonosfera tracksNo ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC license needed for Sonosfera music under an active plan.
- Available marketChoose a plan for your business and keep your Sonosfera Music Use Certificate with your account records.
Personal streaming services
Why Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube will not protect your business.
A paid personal subscription is not the same thing as business playback permission. These official terms are useful when staff ask why the venue cannot just use a familiar app.
Spotify
Spotify is a personal listening service. Business playback needs a separate commercial setup rather than a personal subscription.
Read official termsApple Music
Apple Media Services terms restrict standard service and content use to personal, non-commercial use unless a specific exception applies.
Read official termsYouTube Music
YouTube terms distinguish personal viewing/listening from public commercial playback in a venue.
Read official terms
Who needs a music license?
Any customer-facing space where people can hear the music should think about licensing.
Fitness studios 
Retail stores 
Salons 
Hotels 
Barber shops 
Gyms 
Offices 
Restaurants 
Cafes 
Spas
Your practical route to clearer music proof.
- 01
Define your music goal
- 02
Compare ASCAP / BMI / SESAC / GMR with Sonosfera
- 03
Choose Sonosfera for Sonosfera playback
- 04
Download certificate proof
Step-by-step plan
- 01Decide whether you need chart hits and radio, or whether a controlled background atmosphere is enough.
- 02Use official resources for the traditional route, then compare that with Sonosfera’s catalogue-specific proof workflow.
- 03Start a plan, keep staff on the Sonosfera player, and avoid mixing outside sources into the covered setup.
- 04Once eligible, generate the certificate from billing so the country, locations, billing period, and verification serial match your account.
Common licensing questions in United States.
Do I need an ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, or GMR license if I use Sonosfera?
For music in the Sonosfera catalogue: no. With an active plan, your Sonosfera subscription is your license for our music. Sonosfera music is owned by Sonosfera and is not registered with ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, or GMR or any other collecting society. Other music you play (radio, TV, Spotify, live music) still needs your ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, or GMR license.
What does Sonosfera cover in the US?
Your subscription is your licence for Sonosfera music under an active plan. Radio, DJs, live music and third-party playlists need separate permissions.
Does my Sonosfera plan cover other music sources?
Your plan covers Sonosfera catalogue playback. Check permissions separately for any other music you play.
What legal source is this page grounded in?
Vendor-issued account proof for eligible Sonosfera catalogue playback at the listed premises; outside repertoire remains separate. The current reference citation in Sonosfera's country-specific certificate text is Vendor account proof for Sonosfera catalogue use; local public-performance rules vary for outside music sources.
Start a catalogue-scoped Sonosfera soundtrack in United States.
Use Sonosfera for the catalogue it controls, keep your certificate proof clear, and avoid mixing a personal streaming account into your business music setup.