Licences for an online radio in Spain
With your own or free music you pay no licences. If you broadcast commercial music, we tell you which ones you need in each case.
By Equipo de GadeSonic · Updated on
You can run your radio legally without paying for licences
Licences are only needed for other people's music managed by a collecting society. If all the music you broadcast is yours or has a free licence that allows broadcasting, your radio is legal without paying anyone. This also applies to companies, bars and shops.
Check three things for each song:
- The author doesn't manage it through a collecting society (SGAE or any other in any country). If they're a member, the society charges for their works even if they're published for free.
- The licence allows your use. CC0, CC BY, CC BY-SA and CC BY-ND allow broadcasting, including for commercial purposes. Those marked NC (non-commercial) aren't valid for a business or a radio with advertising.
- You meet its conditions: credit the author (your radio's player already shows artist and title) and keep the link or a screenshot of the licence in case you're asked.
Where to find free music
| Site | What it offers |
|---|---|
| Free Music Archive | Thousands of songs in every style; each one states its licence. |
| Jamendo | Independent artists under Creative Commons. For commercial use it offers paid licences at Jamendo Licensing. |
| ccMixter | Remixes and electronic music under Creative Commons. |
| Incompetech | Instrumental music by Kevin MacLeod under CC BY: ideal as background and for ads. |
| Musopen | Public-domain classical music recordings. |
| Internet Archive (netlabels) | Full albums from independent labels, many under Creative Commons. |
You can also ask local artists who aren't in any society for permission directly: an email from them authorising you is enough proof.
If you broadcast commercial music
The music played on other radios or on streaming platforms is almost always managed by collecting societies. To broadcast it on your online radio in Spain you need two licences for internet radio:
- SGAE: authors and publishers (the composition and lyrics).
- AGEDI and AIE (licensed jointly as Somos Música): labels and performers (the recording).
The broadcaster (the radio) applies for them and they cover all its DJs. The price depends on the audience and whether you have income; ask both for a quote.
What each case needs
| Case | What you need |
|---|---|
| Online radio with your own or free music | Nothing. Keep each song's licence. |
| Online radio with commercial music | Internet radio licences from SGAE and AGEDI-AIE. |
| DJ broadcasting on your radio from home | Covered by the radio's licences. No licence per DJ is needed. |
| Bar, pub or club with commercial music on the premises (background or with a DJ) | The venue licences from SGAE and AGEDI-AIE, which they already pay. The rate changes if there's a DJ, live music or dancing: check yours includes it. |
| Venue that also broadcasts online | Venue licences don't cover the internet: you also need internet radio licences, or broadcast only free music. |
| Venue playing its radio with free music only | Nothing for that music. Keep the licences in case a society makes a claim. |
| Talk-only show or podcast | Nothing, unless you use copyrighted background music or jingles. |
How to apply for the licences
- Decide what music you'll broadcast: your own, free or commercial. If it's only your own or free, stop here.
- Apply to SGAE and AGEDI-AIE for an internet radio licence, stating your estimated audience and whether you have income.
- Keep the licences. If you're asked for reports of what you broadcast, get them from your radio's history.
Who is responsible
The broadcaster: the radio. GadeSonic Radio System provides the technology; the rights to what plays are your responsibility, as stated in our terms.
Informational guide about the general situation in Spain. Rates and conditions are set by each society and may change: confirm them with them.
Frequently asked questions
Who pays the licences, the platform or the radio?
The radio. The platform provides the technical service; the rights to the music you broadcast are the broadcaster's responsibility.
Can I run a legal radio without paying licences?
Yes, if all the music is yours or has a free licence that allows broadcasting (for example CC BY or CC0) and its author doesn't manage it through a society such as SGAE.
Does my bar's licence cover broadcasting online?
No. Venue licences cover the music played inside, including with a DJ if your rate includes it. To broadcast commercial music online you need internet radio licences.