8 FAQs About Music Licenses In Malaysia

It’s a known fact that while all good restaurants serve good food at reasonable prices, the best ones also play Taylor Swift while doing it!

If you want her (or any copyrighted artist) to serenade your customers as they dine, it’s going to cost you!

In this post, we address the eight top questions about music licenses in Malaysia.

Note: Though our guide is mainly written for F&B outlets, music licenses apply to any business playing copyrighted music as part of revenue generation – boutique, bookstore, and spa owners, read on!  

1. What license do I need to play music in my cafe?

If you plan to play music in your café, you will need to obtain three different music licenses from three separate agencies:

• RPM (Recording Performers Malaysia Berhad)
• PPM (Public Performance Malaysia), and
• MACP (Music Authors’ Copyright Protection)

These licenses are required whenever music is played publicly within your establishment.

2. Can I play music from YouTube in my store?

Yes, you can play music from YouTube in your café

However, regardless of the platform, you must still have the appropriate music licenses.

3. Can I use Spotify to stream music in my store?

Similar to YouTube, you can use Spotify to stream music in your café.

But remember, you still need to obtain the necessary licenses to legally play any music publicly.

4. What music can I play in my café without a license?

A music license is required whenever you control the playlist or have a set list of music to be played in your store.

If you play music in your establishment, you will need to ensure you have the correct licenses in place.

5. What’s the difference between PPM and MACP licenses?

• PPM (Public Performance Malaysia): This license covers the public performance, showing, or playing of music recordings in Malaysia, regardless of the method used.
• MACP (Music Authors’ Copyright Protection): This license compensates songwriters and music publishers when their works are broadcasted, publicly performed, or communicated to the public.

6. How do I apply for a MACP license?

There are three steps to getting an MACP license:

1. Fill out MACP application form: Provide details about the music you plan to play in your café.
2. Submit form to MACP: Send the completed form to the MACP agency for processing.
3. Receive invoice and make payment: After review, MACP will issue an invoice for the license fee.

Once payment is made, MACP will provide a permit sticker, which must be displayed in your café.

7. How can I obtain a PPM license?

The process for obtaining a PPM license is similar to that of a MACP license. Submit an application form with the relevant information to the music agency. After review, they will provide you with an invoice and a permit sticker to be displayed on your premises.

8. How much will a music license for my café cost?

We’re afraid we can’t give a definitive answer as the cost of a music license is calculated based on several factors, including:

• type of music played
• number of seats in your café, and
• music equipment used

If you’d like to estimate the cost of licenses for your store, the official agency tariffs will come in handy.

• RPM tariffs
• MACP Music Licence fee based on establishment
• PPM_standard_tariffs

Note: Though accurate as of publishing this article, we cannot guarantee these rates remain up-to-date indefinitely. For certainty, contact the respective agencies or have us contact them for you.

Let MISHU handle your music license application

Need help with dealing with music licensing agencies and compiling documentation to apply for your music license? MISHU would love to help – get in touch today!