Turkey has four music societies: MESAM and MSG for authors, whose federation MSF sets the public venue tariff, and MÜ YAP and MÜYORBİR for producers and performers.
| Who | What for | |
|---|---|---|
| MESAM | Türkiye Musiki Eseri Sahipleri Meslek Birliği | Composers, lyricists and publishers |
| MSG | Musiki Eseri Sahipleri Grubu Meslek Birliği | Second authors' society |
| MSF | Müzik Sektöründe Eser Sahipleri Federasyonu | Federation of MESAM and MSG; sets public venue tariff |
| MÜ YAP | Bağlantılı Hak Sahibi Fonogram Yapımcıları Meslek Birliği | Phonogram producers |
| MÜYORBİR | Müzik Yorumcuları Meslek Birliği | Performers |
The MSF 2026 general licensing tariff (annex A, public venues) covers authors' rights for music in restaurants, cafés, bars, shops, markets and salons. MÜ YAP states that hotels, restaurants, shopping arcades and malls need its permission to play recorded music, with online licensing. A joint licensing unit of the four societies has existed since 2014.
In 2023 protocols with hotel and food service associations offered single window licensing with tariff cuts of about 70% on average, according to press coverage of the Culture Ministry.
MSF charges an annual fee by venue category and net area (0 to 50 and 51 to 100 m2, then per extra m2), with a higher line if live music is included, per room for hospitals and per branch for banks and pharmacies; owners of more than 10 venues get 10% off. Prices are in TRY, without VAT (KDV).
2026 example: MSF category 2.A.2, restaurant or café without a bar unit, recorded music, 0 to 50 m2, TRY 27,214.26 a year excluding VAT, authors' side only. Neighbouring rights tariffs were 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. No local society statement on streaming apps was found.
Each society licenses its own repertoire; the MSF tariff states that it is the fee for works under the societies' protection. No legal presumption or mandatory collective management rule for neighbouring rights was verified for this guide, so the position is unclear.
A venue using only directly licensed royalty free music would need documentation to answer claims from MESAM, MSG, MÜ YAP or MÜYORBİR. MÜ YAP reports taking legal action after an awareness campaign; statutory penalties were not verified.
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 Turkey the societies license their own repertoire, but whether any of them can claim for music outside it was not verified, so the position is unclear. Keep the Dr.DIO certificate and track list, and ask MSF and MÜ YAP in writing 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.
Under the MSF 2026 tariff, a restaurant or café without a bar unit, 0 to 50 m2, pays TRY 27,214.26 a year excluding VAT for authors. Recordings fees are separate.
MESAM and MSG fees for public venues are set by the MSF tariff, by venue category and area.
Annual, by category and net area; for category 2.A.2 up to 50 m2 it is TRY 27,214.26 excluding VAT.
MÜ YAP says hotels, restaurants, shopping arcades and malls need its permission to play recorded music.
No. Personal plans are for personal, noncommercial use.
Possibly, but the legal position was not verified. Keep documentation and ask the societies in writing.
