Open Ear Music and Dr.DIO side by side
| Open Ear Music | Dr.DIO |
|---|
| Price | Unknown now; earlier FAQ cited GBP 39.99 plus VAT per zone per month | $14.99 a month per venue or $149 a year |
|---|
| Free plan | Not stated | First 14 days free |
|---|
| Music license | Earlier: customer bought own PRS and PPL license | Direct license from the studio, in no society repertoire |
|---|
| Catalog | Major labels | 2,298 original tracks, electronic and ambient |
|---|
| Status | Redirects to Imagesound (checked 22.10.2026) | Active, launched 2026 |
|---|
| Where it plays | Not stated | Venue player in the browser, one zone |
|---|
| Good fit for | Existing customers, via Imagesound | UK venues that want calm electronic music |
|---|
When Open Ear Music is the better choice
If you were an Open Ear customer, the natural path is Imagesound, where the site now leads. Open Ear offered major label music, which Dr.DIO does not.
We do not know Imagesound's current prices or terms, so we do not compare them here.
When Dr.DIO fits better
Under Open Ear's earlier FAQ, customers had to buy their own PRS and PPL licenses on top of the subscription. For Dr.DIO music no PRS or PPL license is needed, because no Dr.DIO track is registered with either.
No Dr.DIO track is registered with any collecting society, and the license for Dr.DIO music comes from the studio directly. In some countries a society may presume all music is in its repertoire (GEMA in Germany is one example), and the venue may need to show it plays only non managed music. Radio, TV or live music in the same venue still need their own licenses.
How to try Dr.DIO
- Listen to the free radio stations on drdio.studio to hear the catalog
- Sign in with Google or Apple and choose Business for your venue
- Use the first 14 days free with the venue player in the browser
- Set your own station and hourly schedule, and keep the venue certificate
Checked in October 2026
The facts about Open Ear Music on this page come from its own website, its terms and public sources as they stood in October 2026. Prices and terms change, so check the current ones on the Open Ear Music site before you decide.
