Short answer: ASCAP has no single business license. On its 2026 rate schedules a retail store pays $324 a year per location for audio-only background music, the Music-in-Business license (offices and similar workplaces) has a $345 minimum, and bars and restaurants start at $502 a year, rising with occupancy. ASCAP covers only its own repertoire: BMI, SESAC and GMR are licensed separately. Figures checked against ASCAP’s official rate schedules on 23 September 2026; this is not a quote, and the table below links to each schedule.
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Each type of venue has its own rate schedule. The figures below are the entry points on ASCAP's published 2026 schedules; ASCAP adjusts them every calendar year in line with the US consumer price index.
| Type of business | 2026 annual fee | Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Retail store, background music (audio only) | $324 per location ($488.50 with audio-visual) | Retail stores |
| Offices and workplaces (Music-in-Business) | minimum $345 | Music-in-Business |
| Bars, grills, taverns and restaurants | minimum $502, by occupancy | Bars and restaurants |
Chains pay a lower fee per store once they pass 200 locations. Live music, DJs, karaoke and televisions change the category and raise the fee, and a license runs for a contract year from its start date rather than being prorated.
ASCAP licenses the public performance of the songs written by its members. A varied playlist of popular music also draws on songwriters represented by BMI, SESAC and GMR, and a license from one organisation grants nothing over the others. That is why the ASCAP figure is only part of the bill for most venues.
An ASCAP license is also not a source of music: it does not make a personal Spotify or Apple Music account usable in a business, because those services' own terms limit them to personal use.
A PRO license buys permission to play that organisation's repertoire; it does not buy the music itself, and it does not cover the other organisations. The alternative for background music is a catalogue that sits outside those repertoires altogether.
My Corporate Radio is a music streaming service for commercial venues built on its own library, produced in-house under human editorial supervision, with the rights settled directly with the producers and authors involved. Those works are not part of the repertoires administered by ASCAP, BMI, SESAC or GMR. For a single location the Background Music plan costs £12.99$16.99€14.99 per month, with curated stations, announcements and documentation of the catalogue's origin. Live music, DJs or karaoke with popular repertoire still need the relevant licenses.
It depends on the type of business. On ASCAP’s 2026 schedules a retail store pays $324 a year per location for audio-only background music, offices start at $345 under the Music-in-Business license, and bars and restaurants start at $502.
Usually not. ASCAP covers only its members’ songs; most playlists also include songs licensed by BMI, SESAC or GMR, which require their own licenses.
ASCAP adjusts its rate schedules every calendar year in line with the US consumer price index, so always check the current schedule on ascap.com.
No. The ASCAP license covers the performance rights, but a personal streaming account remains limited to personal use by its own terms.
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Official sources for current licensing rates:
ASCAP: ascap.com/help/ascap-licensing
BMI: bmi.com/licensing
SESAC: sesac.com
GMR: globalmusicrights.com
Rate schedules are published and revised by each organisation and vary by venue profile. For the figure that applies to a specific business, always consult the official organisation directly.