Estonian venues conclude a licence agreement with EAU (Estonian Authors' Society) and pay EFU (phonogram producers) for recorded music. The litsents.ee portal sells public performance licences.
| Who | What for | |
|---|---|---|
| EAU | Eesti Autorite Ühing (Estonian Authors' Society) | Authors and publishers |
| EFU | Eesti Fonogrammitootjate Ühing | Phonogram producers; remuneration for recordings |
| EEL | Eesti Esitajate Liit (Estonian Performers Association) | Performers; relation to EFU not verified |
| Litsents.ee | Litsents.ee | Portal for buying public performance licences |
EAU concludes licence agreements for background or live music in catering and other venues; it says it is not a supervisory body. EFU collects remuneration for public performance of recordings and publishes tariffs. Litsents.ee, linked from EFU, sells licences; its operators were not verified.
EAU fees depend on venue size, live or recorded music and number of dance evenings (in 2017 ERR reported about EUR 21 a month for a pub or bar up to 50 seats). EFU tariffs are by venue type; the entertainment venue table goes by visitor capacity and events per week.
One EFU figure: for entertainment venues with 1 to 25 visitors and 1 to 2 events a week, EUR 40.78 a month from 2026, phonogram remuneration only. This is not a shop or café background tariff, and it was taken from the search summary of the official PDF, not read directly. EFU charges operators of background music systems EUR 5.99 per month per terminal in 2026.
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.
EAU and EFU guidance from 2017 says that under Estonian law playing recorded music also requires paying performers and phonogram producers. Whether this remuneration is due for directly licensed recordings from non members (mandatory collective management) was not verified at article level, so the position is unclear.
Police, quoted by ERR in 2017, said unlicensed use causing damage over EUR 200 is a crime, and under EUR 200 a misdemeanour with fines up to EUR 6,400 for companies and EUR 300 for individuals.
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 Estonia it is unclear whether the performers' and producers' remuneration applies to directly licensed recordings such as Dr.DIO's. Ask EAU and EFU 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.
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.
Yes, for protected music: a licence agreement with EAU, and EFU remuneration for recordings.
EAU prices by venue size and use, EFU by venue type. No verified shop example was available for this guide.
A contract with the Estonian Authors' Society for background or live music in a café or restaurant.
EFU publishes tariffs by venue type; for small entertainment venues the 2026 figure is reported as EUR 40.78 a month.
A portal linked from EFU where businesses buy public performance licences.
No. Personal plans are for personal, noncommercial use.
