Who licenses what
| Who | What for | |
|---|---|---|
| MUSICAUTOR | MUSICAUTOR | Authors and publishers; HoReCa tariff |
| PROPHON | PROPHON | Performers and phonogram producers |
Dr.DIO · Music license in Bulgaria
Music licence for a café, hotel or shop in Bulgaria
Bulgarian venues pay MUSICAUTOR for authors and publishers and PROPHON for performers and producers. Both publish 2026 tariffs, in BGN and EUR.
Which license a café, shop or hotel needs
MUSICAUTOR's 2026 tariff, approved by the Minister of Culture, covers live and recorded music in hospitality, accommodation, shops and services. PROPHON has its own tariffs for venues, shops and hotels. MUSICAUTOR's licence does not cover related rights.
MUSICAUTOR's Q&A says a broadcaster's licence does not include public performance, so the venue owner must arrange rights even when playing radio, TV or bought discs.
How the fee is worked out
MUSICAUTOR charges annually per seat by star category for restaurants, cafés and bars, per bed for hotels, per m2 for discos and casinos, and for shops a base amount plus a rate per m2 of sales area. Discounts apply by town size, volume, early contract and advance payment; amounts are indexed to CPI (6.7733% from 1 January 2026) and exclude VAT. PROPHON prices by venue type, star rating and seats.
2026 examples (authors only): a restaurant, café or fast food outlet without entry fee, 1 star or not categorised, EUR 5.46 (BGN 10.67) per seat a year; shops EUR 51.07 plus EUR 0.35 per m2 of sales area a year; excluding VAT.
Can I play Spotify or YouTube in my business?
Consumer plans of Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube are licensed for personal, noncommercial use under their own terms, so a private account is not a license to play music to customers.
Music outside the collecting societies
The Bulgarian Copyright Act text could not be read for this guide. MUSICAUTOR states that its licence also protects against claims by rightholders it does not represent, and that only works out of copyright (author died over 70 years ago) or authentic unreworked folk works may be used without a licence, while related rights may still apply.
Whether a venue proving fully directly licensed music is exempt is not stated in the sources read, so the position is unclear.
MUSICAUTOR's Q&A cites fines of BGN 2,000 to 20,000 for a first violation and BGN 3,000 to 30,000 for a repeat, imposed by the Ministry of Culture.
Dr.DIO in Bulgaria
Dr.DIO Studio makes its own electronic and ambient music, no Dr.DIO track is registered with any collecting society, and the Business plan ($14.99 a month per venue, 14 days free) gives the venue a direct public playback license and a certificate for Dr.DIO music.
In Bulgaria it is unclear whether directly licensed music is exempt: MUSICAUTOR says only public domain and authentic folk works may be used without its licence, and the law text could not be checked. Ask MUSICAUTOR and PROPHON in writing, with the Dr.DIO certificate, before you decide.
Any other music in the venue, such as radio, TV, live music or other playlists, still needs the usual licences.
Official sources
- MUSICAUTOR: https://www.musicautor.org/
- PROPHON: https://www.prophon.org/
- MUSICAUTOR licence page: https://www.musicautor.org/images/dokumenti/polzvateli/publichno_izpalnenie/Tarifa_HoReCa_2026_MUSICAUTOR.pdf
- PROPHON licence page: https://www.prophon.org/attachments/PageBlock/193/documents/2-restaurants-tariff-rev-2026.pdf
- MUSICAUTOR: https://www.musicautor.org/bg/p/polzvateli/publichno-izpalnenie
- MUSICAUTOR: https://www.musicautor.org/bg/p/author-rights/qna-consumers
- MUSICAUTOR: https://www.musicautor.org/bg/p/musicautor/tarifi-i-dogovori/tarifi
- PROPHON: https://www.prophon.org/public-places/zavedeniya
About this guide
This page explains the general rules as published by the societies and laws listed above, checked in October 2026. It is not legal advice; fees and rules change, so confirm with the society before you decide.
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Questions
What is the MUSICAUTOR fee for a venue?
In 2026, a 1 star or non categorised restaurant or café without entry fee pays EUR 5.46 (BGN 10.67) per seat a year, excluding VAT, for authors.
Do I need a licence for music in a shop?
Yes. MUSICAUTOR charges shops EUR 51.07 plus EUR 0.35 per m2 of sales area a year in 2026, and PROPHON charges separately.
What is the PROPHON tariff for a restaurant?
PROPHON prices restaurants by venue type, star rating and seats under its 2026 revised tariff.
How much does a music licence for a café cost in Bulgaria?
For authors, EUR 5.46 per seat a year for a basic café in 2026, plus the PROPHON fee for recordings.
Can a venue use music without copyright?
MUSICAUTOR says only public domain or authentic folk works may be used without its licence; for other music the position is unclear.
Is Spotify legal in a venue in Bulgaria?
No. Personal plans are for personal, noncommercial use.