Music Licensing for Internet Radio: Guide for Broadcasters

Playing copyrighted music over internet radio means more than just pressing “play.” You must navigate a web of music rights, licenses, and performing organizations to stay legal and ethical. In this guide, you’ll learn what you need to know — with practical details and up‑to‑date information from trusted sources.

Do You Need a License to Broadcast Music?

If your station plays copyrighted music (i.e. songs by others, not royalty‑free or public domain), then yes — you need licensing to avoid infringing copyright. Operating a station without the proper licenses can expose you to legal risk, significant fines, or even complete shutdown, especially as your audience grows and you start your own online radio station with a streaming platform.

However, stations that only broadcast talk shows, interviews, or royalty‑free music often don’t require full music licensing, though you should always confirm for your country and platform.

As a practical note: Zeno already holds agreements with ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC for content streamed via zeno.fm. But if you broadcast on your own website, mobile app, or other external platforms, you’ll need additional licenses in your jurisdiction.

“We do have agreements with ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC … covering content on our zeno.fm website. However, if you plan to broadcast music … we recommend obtaining the necessary music licenses from the relevant organizations in your country.”

Types of Licenses and Rights You Should Understand

Internet radio stations must obtain two primary types of licenses for music: one for the musical composition (handled by Performing Rights Organizations, or PROs) and one for the sound recording (handled by SoundExchange or an equivalent organization). PROs issue blanket licenses for radio stations to play music and collect public performance royalties for copyrighted music. Sound recording licenses are required for performing specific recorded versions of songs.

Here are the key categories of licensing and rights that come into play:

Blanket / Public Performance Licenses

A blanket license gives you permission to broadcast any track in a music catalog managed by a given rights organization (PRO), eliminating the need to license each song individually. A blanket license allows internet radio stations to play any music from the catalog managed by the licensing organization. It’s widely considered one of the most efficient and comprehensive ways to legally stream or broadcast music without the complexity of securing rights on a track‑by‑track basis.

But note: having a blanket license with one PRO does not cover you for music administered by others — you may need multiple blanket licenses if you want coverage across catalogs.

Sound Recording / Digital Performance Rights

In the U.S., SoundExchange collects royalties for digital performances of sound recordings on non-interactive online radio broadcasts under the statutory license framework, rather than for the composition. For digital platforms, that U.S. statutory license includes a $1000 annual minimum fee, and these performance fees apply when users stream recorded tracks, unlike terrestrial radio, so it’s important to budget for these costs when choosing professional streaming plans for online radio.

If your streaming reaches into territories outside U.S. law, there may be equivalent local bodies in each country, and internet radio can face high webcasting fees as these licensing costs add up across borders or at scale.

Sync / Master Licenses (for audiovisual content)

If you pair music with video — promos, reels, or social media clips online, rather than terrestrial radio-style audio streaming — you’ll need synchronization (sync) and master use licenses to legally include both the musical composition and the actual recording. These licenses are essential parts of the broader music‑rights ecosystem, and digital platforms still require the right license for audiovisual uses, separate from the performance fees tied to streaming audio, ensuring you’re covered when combining audio with visual content.

Licensing in the U.S. vs. Other Countries

• In the U.S., stations often hold PRO licenses (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC) alongside deals with SoundExchange for digital recording performance royalties.

• Under the Music Modernization Act, the MLC handles blanket mechanical licenses for qualified digital services.

• Costs depend on audience size, station footprint, and catalog.

• For global reach, you might also need to secure licenses in each jurisdiction your stream reaches, or block access where not licensed (geo-blocking).

In many countries, there is a single collective management organization (CMO) that handles licensing; in others, multiple PROs or CMOs exist.

List of worldwide regulatory bodies

Consider Royalty-Free and Original Music Options

Not every internet radio broadcaster has the resources or scale to pursue blanket licenses or pay performance royalties. If you’re a small creator, hobbyist, nonprofit, or just starting out, you still have great options for legally playing music on your station — without the complexity or cost of licensing popular commercial tracks, especially if you pair them with professional streaming plans for radio online that match your budget.

Royalty-free music libraries offer tracks that are either completely free to use or available through a one-time fee or specific usage license. These tracks are often created specifically for creators like podcasters, video editors, and broadcasters, and some catalogs represent independent artists and musicians. They come with clear usage rights, meaning you won’t have to worry about ongoing royalties or compliance audits — as long as you follow the terms provided. In many cases, purchasing a license lets you use the track indefinitely within the stated terms. Some libraries also help create a polished sound without relying on commercial releases, including trending tracks. Rules can still differ if you plan to use the same audio in video, ads, or tv. With commercial music, the copyright may be controlled by the recording artist or record label, which is why extra clearance is often required.

Here are some well-known royalty-free and Creative Commons music sources:

• Free Music Archive (FMA)

• Incompetech

• YouTube Audio Library

• Epidemic Sound(subscription-based)

• Artlist(for paid commercial use)

Alternatively, using original music — whether composed by yourself or a collaborator — gives you full control and avoids any licensing barriers. This is an excellent choice for stations focused on niche content, spoken word, or community programming.

Practical Best Practices for Broadcasters

Maintaining Logs and Reporting

• Maintain detailed logs (song, artist, duration, timestamp). This helps with reporting and audits. In Zeno Tools, you can use the Royalty Statistics feature in the Analytics section to view the aired count and performances of each track in your system, especially when your station runs 24/7 using radio automation for continuous broadcasting.

• Submit required reports to PROs on schedule.

Using Royalty-Free or Original Music

• Whenever possible, incorporate royalty-free or original music, especially in shows with high music usage.

Consulting Legal Experts

• Consult with a legal expert in your country for local licensing rules, and work with qualified professionals because the license needed can differ between scheduled internet-radio use and on-demand availability, particularly if you also host and repurpose your shows as episodes using podcast hosting and AI automation tools.

Licensing music properly is essential for any broadcaster who plays copyrighted music. Though Zeno already holds agreements with ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC for streams via zeno.fm, you still need to ensure compliance when broadcasting elsewhere. If you run an online radio station, remember it is still a broadcast platform, and rules can vary by country, rights type, and use case. Performance licensing helps protect copyright holders, while mechanical rights for uses such as reproductions, cover songs, samples, or even sheet music may involve agencies like the Harry Fox Agency. Always check your local licensing bodies and consult qualified legal or licensing professionals in your country for local licensing and copyright-compliance rules if you are unsure.

October 13, 2025