FAQ: Performing music

Small-scale and occasional street performances don’t require a separate license. A license is only needed when certain criteria are met — read about them here.

You don’t need a separate license if you perform the songs in their original form without modifying the lyrics or composition. However, the event organizer must obtain a license for music performance.

Choirs need a music usage license when organizing concerts or events on their own. If a choir performs at events organized by others, the event organizer is responsible for the licenses.

In addition to licensing matters, choirs should always submit a performance report to us for all their performances:

• The license gives the right to perform music
• The performance report ensures music creators receive their due compensation

Performance reports are submitted through our online service.

Report performed songs as part of your performance report. Use the search feature in the online service to find the correct works. Mark the number of songs and the order of performance.

You can find more detailed instructions for submitting performance reports here.

Submit a performance report in the online service after you’ve performed following these guidelines.

Submit a performance report in Teosto’s online service following these guidelines. Also, report if someone else has performed your music abroad. Teosto forwards the information to the local copyright organization for collecting compensation.

We recommend that you ensure that the event organizer provides the information to the local copyright organization.

Submit a performance report for your gigs in our online service following these guidelines or ask the event organizer to report it. We pay compensation four times a year: in March, June, September, and December.

Please note that receiving compensation for performances requires that you are a Teosto client and that work notifications have been submitted for the works you perform.

If you notice an error in a submitted performance report, contact our customer service for corrections. Mention the report details and the necessary corrections.

A DJ license is a recording permit that you need for gigs when you play music from your computer or other device. You don’t need a license when playing music:

• From CDs or vinyl records
• From DJ streaming services (e.g., Beatport Link, VirtualDJ Online)

A DJ license is needed when:

• You have copied music to your computer or other device
• You use playlists stored on your device

Please note: Playing from Spotify, Apple Music, or other similar streaming services is not permitted even with a DJ license, as it violates these services’ terms of use.

No, you don’t need one if you only perform songs that you have composed, written, and arranged yourself.

Yes, because remixes of others’ songs are based on original works and therefore are not completely independent or entirely new creations.

Spotify’s terms of service prohibit public performance of music on their platform. Playing from cloud services doesn’t require a DJ license at all if the cloud service streams the songs directly without making a local copy.