Romanian venues usually need separate licences from UCMR ADA for authors, and from UPFR and CREDIDAM for the single equitable remuneration for commercial recordings.
| Who | What for | |
|---|---|---|
| UCMR ADA | UCMR ADA, Asociația pentru Drepturi de Autor a Compozitorilor | Composers, lyricists and publishers; ambient licence |
| UPFR | Uniunea Producătorilor de Fonograme din România | Phonogram producers |
| CREDIDAM | CREDIDAM | Performers |
UCMR ADA issues a non exclusive licence for public communication of ambient music in shops, restaurants, hotels and transport, through an online portal; it processes applications within 7 days. UPFR and CREDIDAM collect the single equitable remuneration for commercial phonograms (article 145(1)(d) of Law 8/1996).
UCMR ADA's ambient methodology uses monthly flat amounts by venue type and area, town or village, and for hotels per room per month by star rating.
Example from the methodology applicable from 1 July 2023: a restaurant, terrace, bar or fast food outlet in a town or resort, up to 50 m2, RON 70 a month, authors' share only. UCMR ADA also lists a 2026 update, so the amount may have changed.
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.
Law 8/1996, as amended in 2022, places public communication of musical works under extended collective management (article 145^1) with opt out: rightholders who did not give a mandate can exclude all or some works by notifying the society, which must inform users within 30 days.
The single equitable remuneration for commercial phonograms is under mandatory collective management (article 145(1)(d)), and for those rights the societies also represent rightholders who gave no mandate (article 145(2)). So music outside the societies can remove the authors' fee only if the authors opted out, and UPFR and CREDIDAM can still claim for commercial phonograms.
Penalties were not documented in the sources read.
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 Romania the recordings remuneration is mandatory collective and the societies represent non members too, so UPFR and CREDIDAM can still claim for Dr.DIO recordings played in a venue. The authors' fee can fall away only with an opt out under article 145^1; ask UCMR ADA in writing.
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.
Under UCMR ADA's methodology from July 2023, a small restaurant or bar in a town, up to 50 m2, pays RON 70 a month for authors; a 2026 update exists.
Yes, for ambient music by protected authors, unless they have opted out.
Yes, they collect the single equitable remuneration for commercial phonograms, under mandatory collective management.
UCMR ADA uses monthly flat amounts by venue type, area and location; UPFR and CREDIDAM bill separately.
Public domain works carry no authors' fee, and authors can opt out, but UPFR and CREDIDAM can still claim for commercial phonograms.
No. Personal plans are for personal, noncommercial use.
