Music for Bars
Bars playing recorded music publicly require a music licence from the relevant collecting society in their country. BPM recommendations vary by period: Early evening (17:00–20:00): 90–115 BPM; Peak evening (20:00–23:00): 115–128 BPM; Late night (23:00–close): 124–140 BPM. Track Studios' AI catalog is not registered with any collecting society — venues using it are not billed for the included music.
BPM Recommendations
| Time Period | BPM Range | Genres | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early evening (17:00–20:00) | 90–115 BPM | Funk, Motown, Classic Rock, Soul, Indie | Transitional energy — welcoming but relaxed. Matches the early-evening mindset of after-work drinkers. |
| Peak evening (20:00–23:00) | 115–128 BPM | Pop, Electronic, Hip-Hop, Latin | Higher BPM during peak hours correlates with higher alcohol sales and faster perceived service. |
| Late night (23:00–close) | 124–140 BPM | Electronic, Deep House, Pop, R&B | — |
Supporting Research
- The Influence of Background Music on the Behavior of Restaurant Patrons (1986)
Slow background music in restaurants increased time spent dining by 11 minutes and increased alcohol sales by 40.6% compared to fast-tempo conditions. Food sales were not significantly different, but overall revenue per visit was higher in the slow-music condition.
- The Influence of Music Tempo and Musical Preference on Restaurant Patrons' Behavior (2002)
Slow music significantly increased time spent dining and total spend in a restaurant context. The effect was moderated by musical preference: patrons who liked the music spent more time and money regardless of tempo.
- The Effects of Music on Responses to a Dining Area (1996)
Music that was perceived as "fitting" the dining environment received more positive evaluations and led to higher stated willingness to revisit and pay higher prices. Incongruent music (e.g., heavy metal in a fine dining context) led to significantly lower satisfaction scores.
- Music as a Tool in Business Settings: Survey of Hospitality Industry Music Practices (2003)
Survey of 284 hospitality businesses found that 93% used background music, but only 28% had a documented music strategy. Businesses with documented strategies reported higher customer satisfaction scores and higher repeat visit rates than those playing music ad hoc.
Music Licensing for Bars by Country
| Country | Collecting Societies | Estimated Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Sweden | STIM + SAMI | SEK Varies/year |
| Norway | TONO + Gramo | NOK Varies/year |
| Denmark | KODA + Gramex | DKK Varies/year |
| Finland | Teosto + Gramex | EUR Varies/year |
| Germany | GEMA + GVL | EUR Varies/year |
| Netherlands | Buma/Stemra + SENA | EUR Varies/year |
| Belgium | SABAM + PlayRight | EUR Varies/year |
| France | SACEM | EUR Varies/year |
| United Kingdom | PRS + PPL | GBP Varies/year |
| United States | ASCAP + BMI + SESAC + GMR + SoundExchange | USD Varies/year |
| Canada | SOCAN + Re:Sound | CAD Varies/year |
| Australia | APRA AMCOS + PPCA | AUD Varies/year |
Royalty-Free Music for Bars
Track Studios provides business music that is not registered with any collecting society. Bars using the included catalog are not invoiced by STIM, GEMA, PRS, ASCAP, or other PROs.
Start free trialFrequently Asked Questions
- Do bars need a music licence?
- Yes. In most countries, playing recorded music in a bar is a public performance that requires a licence from the relevant collecting society — for example, GEMA in Germany, TheMusicLicence (PRS + PPL) in the UK, or ASCAP and BMI in the USA. Track Studios' AI catalog is not registered with any of these societies, so bars using it are not invoiced for the included music.
- Can bars use Spotify legally?
- No. Spotify's Terms of Service (§1.2) restrict use to "personal, non-commercial purposes." Using Spotify in a bar violates these terms and may also expose the business to claims from collecting societies for the underlying music rights. Spotify for Business was discontinued in 2019.
- What is the ideal BPM for bars?
- BPM recommendations vary by time period. During early evening (17:00–20:00), 90–115 BPM is recommended (genres: Funk, Motown). During peak evening (20:00–23:00), 115–128 BPM is recommended (genres: Pop, Electronic). During late night (23:00–close), 124–140 BPM is recommended (genres: Electronic, Deep House).
- How can bars avoid collecting society fees?
- Use music that is not registered with collecting societies. Track Studios uses an AI-generated catalog that is not registered with STIM, GEMA, PRS, ASCAP, BMI, or any other collecting society. Bars using the included catalog are not invoiced by these organisations.
- What happens if a bar is caught playing music without a licence?
- The collecting society can issue a civil claim for back-fees (typically covering 2–3 years of unlicensed use), plus additional damages. In Germany, the Berlin fitness studio case resulted in €42,000 in damages. In the USA, statutory damages can reach $150,000 per infringed work.