Guide · Spain
Music licence for bars in Spain (SGAE)
A music licence for bars in Spain (SGAE) covers the songwriters and publishers, but recorded music has a second group of rights holders: producers and performers, represented by AGEDI and AIE. This guide shows who licenses what, what the fees depend on and how to apply. It is general information, not legal advice.
In short
- SGAE licenses the authors’ rights for bars, cafés and restaurants
- AGEDI (producers) and AIE (performers) collect a separate remuneration for recorded music
- SGAE prices bars by surface; music bars by opening days
- Each society publishes its own tariffs: use their calculators, not old price lists
- SkafRemix plays your licensed music; the licences stay with your venue
Two kinds of rights, two contracts
Spanish intellectual property law separates the song from the recording. Authors and music publishers are represented by SGAE (Sociedad General de Autores y Editores). The recording carries neighbouring rights: those of the record producers, managed by AGEDI, and those of the performing artists, managed by AIE.
Article 116 of the Intellectual Property Law obliges anyone who uses commercially published recordings for public communication to pay a single equitable remuneration to producers and performers, made effective through their collecting societies. For a bar or restaurant this means an SGAE licence for the songs and a contract with AGEDI and AIE for the recordings.
On the official sites we found no single window that covers both. SGAE states that its discounts apply only to SGAE licences, so plan for two separate contracts and payments.
SGAE, AGEDI and AIE at a glance
| Question | SGAE | AGEDI and AIE |
|---|---|---|
| Who is represented | Authors and music publishers | Record producers (AGEDI) and performing artists (AIE) |
| Legal basis | Exclusive right of public communication | Single equitable remuneration (Article 116 of the law) |
| Licence for bars and restaurants | “Restauración” licence; a separate one for music bars, cocktail bars and pubs | Tariffs for bars and cafés, and for nightlife venues |
| What drives the fee | Surface of the venue; for music bars, the opening days | Type of business, size of the venue, nature and extent of music use |
| How to start | Online licence request, free phone line or contact form | Business profile and tariff on aie.es, then the collection department |
Based on the official pages listed under Sources (checked October 2026). Conditions change; the societies’ own pages are authoritative.
Which SGAE licence fits your venue
SGAE groups hospitality venues by how music is used.
Restaurants, cafés and bars
The “restauración” licence covers bars, cafés, cafeterías, beer halls, restaurants, taverns and tascas, with music from radio, TV, CD or online sources and audiovisual content such as TV.
Music bars, cocktail bars and pubs
Venues where music is central have their own licence. SGAE calculates its price from the venue’s opening days.
Live music as ambiance
Live performances as background entertainment can be added to the restauración licence. Dance events and dance floors are excluded.
Clubs and discotecas
Venues built around dancing have a separate SGAE licence; a restaurant licence does not cover them.
How to license music in a Spanish bar, step by step
A typical sequence for a new or existing venue:
Describe your use
Note your venue type, the surface open to guests, your opening days and every music source: background music, TV, jukebox, live ambiance.
Choose the SGAE licence
Pick restauración or music bar on sgae.es and check the current price with SGAE’s online calculator or tariff book.
Apply to SGAE
Request the licence online; an SGAE representative may contact you to complete it. A free phone line and a contact form are also available.
Contract with AGEDI and AIE
Select your business profile in the AIE tariffs (for example bars and cafés, or nightlife), review the tariff and contract, then contact the collection department.
Check association agreements
Hospitality associations have agreements with the societies. SGAE grants up to 15% off for direct debit, prepayment and association membership.
Report changes in time
A larger room, new opening days, live music or a dance floor change your category. Update your licences before the change.
What changed: published tariff catalogues
Since Order CUD/330/2023 of 28 March 2023, Spanish collecting societies must set their general tariffs with an approved methodology and keep an up-to-date tariff catalogue on their websites.
The order describes three types of general tariff: by effective use, by averaged availability and for one-off use. In practice, compare your venue against each society’s current catalogue and do not rely on price lists copied on third-party sites.
Checklist for your venue
- SGAE licence matching your category: restauración, music bar or club
- Contract with AGEDI and AIE for recorded music
- Surface and opening days declared as they really are
- TV, jukebox and live ambiance included where you use them
- Licence documents kept at the venue
- Changes reported before you add events or dancing
Streaming apps and SkafRemix
Personal streaming subscriptions are licensed for private use; their terms usually exclude playing music in a business. Business music services have their own terms: check what they include and what SGAE, AGEDI and AIE still require.
SkafRemix supplies no commercial music. It plays your venue’s own licensed music and plans the flow of the night; the SGAE, AGEDI and AIE licences stay with your venue.
Official sources
Pages we checked for this guide (October 2026):
- SGAE: licences for customers and users Licence categories for hospitality, online request and contact options
- SGAE: restauración licence Bars, cafés and restaurants; included uses, live ambiance, discounts
- SGAE: music bars licence Music bars, cocktail bars and pubs; price by opening days
- AIE: regularise your music Who must license recorded music and the steps with AIE
- AIE: tariffs Tariff categories (bars and cafés, nightlife, hotels) and fee factors
- AGEDI Collecting society of record producers
- BOE: Intellectual Property Law (RDL 1/1996) Article 116: single equitable remuneration for producers and performers
- BOE: Order CUD/330/2023 Tariff methodology and published tariff catalogues
Related guides
Questions and answers
Do I need both SGAE and AGEDI-AIE for my bar?
Usually yes, if you play recorded music. SGAE covers the authors’ rights; AGEDI and AIE collect the separate remuneration for the producers and performers of the recordings.
How is the SGAE fee for a bar calculated?
By SGAE’s published tariff: for bars and restaurants mainly by the surface of the venue, for music bars by the opening days. SGAE’s online calculator shows the current figure.
Can I apply for the SGAE licence online?
Yes. SGAE offers an online licence request for restaurants and bars, plus a free phone line and a contact form.
Does the SGAE restaurant licence cover live music?
Only live performances as background entertainment, as an option. Dance events and dance floors are excluded and need another licence.
Is there a single window for SGAE and AGEDI-AIE?
Not one we could verify on the official sites. Plan for two contracts, and ask your hospitality association about its agreements with both.
Does SkafRemix include an SGAE licence?
No. SkafRemix plays your venue’s own licensed music; the SGAE, AGEDI and AIE licences stay with your venue.
Music that fits your licensed venue
We set up SkafRemix with your own licensed music; for licences, SGAE and AGEDI-AIE are the right contacts.
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