Music on hold and licensing in the US
All four US performing rights organizations treat music on hold as something that needs permission when you play their repertoire. Here is what each of them says, in their own words, and what comes with the music in a phonegreetings.ai greeting.
What the performing rights organizations say
ASCAP
In its licensing FAQ, ASCAP answers “Do I need permission to use music on hold?” with: “Yes. Your business is publicly performing music when it places a caller on hold and transmits music via your telephone system.” Permission can come from ASCAP or directly from the copyright owners.
BMI
BMI’s Music Performance License Agreement contains a separate “License for Music on Hold”. It covers performing BMI works through recorded music on hold via the licensee’s telephone system.
SESAC
SESAC lists music on hold among its industry licenses, next to restaurants, hotels and health clubs.
Global Music Rights
GMR’s FAQ says: “Music-on-hold is a type of public performance.” Businesses that want to use music on hold are asked to contact GMR for the proper license.
What this means for your phone line
If you put a radio station, a streaming playlist or songs from your own collection on hold, the organizations above say you need permission for their music. Each of them licenses a different catalog of songs, so one license does not cover all music.
Whether your business needs a license for a specific setup is a question for the organization or for your attorney. We do not give legal advice, and the decision belongs to you.
Music in a phonegreetings.ai greeting
Our generator places music from our own library under the voice. Our terms state: music from our library is cleared for use on phone systems, for hold music, queue music and IVR beds, as part of a generated greeting. The tracks may not be extracted or licensed separately.
Music is optional. You can create the same greeting without music, for example when your phone system already plays licensed hold music in the background.
Before you switch on hold music
- Know where every track comes from
- Keep music low under the voice
- Use one style across greeting, menu and hold
- Ask the rights organization if you play commercial songs
- Do not extract tracks from a finished greeting
- Keep the license or terms with your phone system notes
Questions
Can I play the radio on hold?
ASCAP states that its radio license does not authorize retransmitting broadcasts of ASCAP music by means of music-on-hold systems. Ask the organizations before you put a radio station on your line.
Does the music in your greetings need an extra license?
Our terms clear the music from our library for use on phone systems as part of a generated greeting. If you are unsure about your specific setup, ask the rights organization or your attorney.
Which phone systems mention music rights?
Some do, for example 8x8 and GoTo Connect remind you in their help pages that you are responsible for the rights to the files you upload. See our phone system guides.