Internet radio
royalty calculator

Estimate what you'll owe for music licensing as an internet radio station in the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, France, or Germany. Covers both the recording and composition rights bodies in each country.

Country

Station type

Licensing model

Avg concurrent listeners

listeners

Hours broadcast per day

hrs

Songs per hour

songs

1,825listener-hours / month

21,900listener-hours / year

328,500plays / year

Concurrent listeners means how many people are tuned in at the same time, not your total audience. A flat number assumes that many people are listening every hour of every day, which no real station has. Audiences peak and dip, so use a realistic average. Even a small average adds up fast: 5 listeners × 12 hours a day × 365 days = 21,900 listener-hours a year, the figure music licensing bodies bill on.

Annual revenue (optional)

Licensing bodies charge the greater of a percentage of revenue or a usage-based fee. Adding revenue only raises the estimate when a percentage of it (3% to 12% depending on the country) is more than the usage-based fee, so for most small stations it makes no difference.

Based on approximately 21,900 listener-hours and 328,500 plays per year.

SoundExchange (sound recording)Statutory

Annual minimum fee appliesView official rates

$1,000 / yr

Composition PROs (ASCAP / BMI / SESAC)Estimated

Blanket licence, estimated rangeView official rates

$500 to $2,000 / yr

Estimated total$1,500 to $3,000 / yr

Some bodies charge a flat blanket fee or a percentage of revenue rather than a per-play rate, and some platforms negotiate or bundle rates. Figures shown here are independent estimates.

Estimate only. Not legal advice, and exclusive of VAT or sales tax. Music licensing rates change and depend on your specific circumstances. Figures shown are the latest published for each territory and were last reviewed in 2026; some were set in earlier years, so confirm the current rates with each licensing body before you broadcast.

RadioCult automatically logs the play counts licensing bodies require. Start your station on RadioCult now →

How internet radio royalties work

Internet radio stations owe royalties to two separate groups of rights holders: the recording rights holders (the record labels and artists) and the composition rights holders (the songwriters and publishers). A different body collects each in every country, for example SoundExchange in the US, PPL in the UK, and Re:Sound in Canada.

Composition royalties are collected by the performing rights organisations (PROs), for example ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC in the US, PRS for Music in the UK, SACEM in France, and GEMA in Germany. Most PROs charge blanket licence fees based on revenue or a minimum annual fee, which is why some figures are shown as a range rather than a fixed amount.

Related tools and resources

For the full picture on rights, rates, and reporting, read our guide to internet radio music licensing. Estimating your streaming costs too? Try our bandwidth calculator. New to broadcasting? Our guide to starting an online radio station walks you through every step.

FAQs

What counts as a "performance"?

One performance is one listener hearing one track. A station with 50 concurrent listeners playing 15 songs an hour generates 750 performances an hour.

Do hobby and non-commercial stations still pay royalties?

Usually yes. Most territories set a minimum annual fee even for small or non-commercial stations, though the rates are lower.

Why is the composition cost shown as a range?

Composition rights (for example ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC in the US, or PRS in the UK) are licensed under blanket agreements based on revenue or negotiated minimums, so an exact figure depends on your licence. We show a range and link to each body.