In practice a Portuguese business playing music needs two licences: SPA for authors, and PassMúsica, run by AUDIOGEST and GDA, for producers and performers.
| Who | What for | |
|---|---|---|
| SPA | Sociedade Portuguesa de Autores | Authors' rights for public performance, including background music |
| AUDIOGEST | AUDIOGEST, Associação para a Gestão e Distribuição de Direitos | Phonogram producers |
| GDA | GDA, Direitos dos Artistas | Performers' rights |
| PassMúsica | PassMúsica | Joint licence of AUDIOGEST and GDA for related rights |
SPA licenses public performance of works, including background music (Música Ambiente); background music from radio or TV counts as Música Ambiente, and one licence covers both. PassMúsica is the joint licence of AUDIOGEST and GDA for producers' and performers' rights in recorded music used in establishments.
SPA's FAQ confirms that SPA and PassMúsica are distinct, and paying one does not replace the other.
The SPA 2026 public performance table uses categories by type of establishment (for example Table 2 for bars, cafés and restaurants), banded by area in m2 and or capacity, with daily, monthly and annual rates and 10% off for annual payment.
No amount is quoted here, because the SPA table could not be read as text. The PassMúsica fee basis was not verified.
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. SPA's FAQ says public performance of downloaded music always needs authorisation whatever the medium, and TV or radio in a commercial establishment is a separate act of communication to the public.
Whether the equitable remuneration of producers and performers can only be claimed through a collective management entity under the Portuguese code (articles 178 and 184) could not be verified, and AUDIOGEST's extended collective management section was not read. The position for music outside the societies is therefore unclear.
Keep written licences or contracts for any directly licensed music. Official penalties were not documented in the sources reviewed, although Portuguese courts and the CJEU have ruled on related cases.
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 Portugal it is unclear whether PassMúsica can still claim the recordings remuneration for music outside its members, because the collection rule could not be verified. Ask SPA and PassMúsica 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.
The SPA 2026 table prices bars, cafés and restaurants by area and or capacity, with daily, monthly and annual rates; the amounts could not be read for this guide.
For producers' and performers' rights in recorded music, PassMúsica is the licence used in practice, and paying SPA does not replace it.
Yes, an SPA licence for Música Ambiente, and PassMúsica for the recordings.
Yes, in practice. SPA's FAQ says they are distinct and one does not replace the other.
No. Personal plans are for personal, noncommercial use, and SPA says public performance needs authorisation whatever the medium.
Public domain works carry no authors' rights. For directly licensed music the PassMúsica position is unclear; keep written licences and ask the societies.
