When broadcasting music at your business, two types of copyrights apply, both of which must be paid:
📼 REPRODUCTION RIGHTS
These rights cover the duplication, transcription, or storage of music in a fixed form.
Since SPECTRE stores music files on all player models, activating a new player involves replicating a set of tracks, which incurs Reproduction Royalty fees.
To ensure compliance, SPECTRE reports all replicated tracks and their usage to copyright management societies (e.g., SCPP, SPPF, HKRIA, MRSS) and makes the necessary royalty payments annually.
🎙️ PERFORMANCE RIGHTS
These rights cover the public playing or broadcasting of music and fall into two categories:
Mechanical Performance — Recorded music played via radio, CD player, hard disk, or streaming services.
Live Performance — Music mixed live by a DJ or performed by a band, singer, etc.
SPECTRE’s Music Programming service only involves Mechanical Performance. However, both types of performance must be declared, and royalties must be paid accordingly.
🧾 Who Pays for Performance Rights?
Since SPECTRE is not the direct broadcaster of music, we typically cannot collect and pay performance royalties. The business broadcasting the music must settle payments with their local copyright societies, such as:
SACEM (France)
PRS (UK)
COMPASS & MRSS (Singapore)
Exception – USA:
In the United States, SPECTRE has agreements with ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and GMR, allowing us to report Mechanical Performance and handle royalty payments on behalf of our clients.