FAQ - royalty-free background music, KODA and licence-free music

Yes. If you play ordinary commercial music from the radio, Spotify, Apple Music or similar, businesses normally have to pay a licence to both KODA and Gramex when the music is played publicly.

Soundhero provides music where the rights are already cleared in advance. It can therefore be used as background music in your business without a separate payment to those organisations.

No. According to Spotify's own terms, ordinary Spotify is for personal, non-commercial use only. It may not be played publicly in businesses such as bars, restaurants, shops and salons - anywhere other people can hear it.

Playing music legally in a business requires either Spotify's commercial product (Soundtrack.io) plus fees to KODA and Gramex, or an all-in solution such as Soundhero where everything is cleared in advance.

Yes. If your business has played copyright-protected music publicly without the required licence, KODA can - under Danish copyright law - charge for the entire period the music was playing. A missing licence can therefore turn into a claim reaching years back.

With Soundhero the rights are cleared in advance, so you play legally from day one and avoid the risk of a backdated claim.

Music counts as publicly performed as soon as it is played somewhere people outside your private household can hear it - in a shop, an office, a restaurant or at an event. Public performance of protected music normally requires a licence. Soundhero's music is rights-cleared in advance, so you are covered.

To use Spotify legally in a business you generally need the commercial licence through Spotify (Soundtrack.io) from around DKK 299/month, and on top of that you pay fees to KODA and Gramex. With Soundhero you get music, licence and streaming in one price from DKK 199/month, with no separate third-party fees.

Royalty-free music is music where the rights have been settled in advance between the artist and the publisher. That means you can use the music in your business without paying ongoing royalties or fees to collecting societies.

With Soundhero you simply pay one subscription price for access to the music.

Yes. Licence-free music is fully legal as long as the rights are properly agreed directly with artists, or through licensing models where the rights are not administered by collecting societies.

Soundhero works with rights holders and music suppliers who have cleared the rights in advance.

Spotify, Apple Music and similar services are built primarily for private use. Using them in a business normally requires:

• payment to KODA
• payment to Gramex
• and possibly a commercial licence from the streaming service

Soundhero is built specifically for business use and combines music, licence and streaming in one solution.

Yes. If your business has several locations, the subscription can be adapted so each shop, restaurant or department can stream.

For multiple sites we are happy to set up a framework agreement with one price and simple administration across all addresses. Contact us and we will find a fit.

Yes. If you are an association or a trade body that wants music for your members, we are happy to set up a framework agreement with shared terms and a favourable member price.

Contact us at info@soundhero.dk or on +45 39 40 28 20.

You can play the music from a computer, tablet or smartphone, or through sound systems such as Sonos. All you need is an internet connection and a sound system in your venue. We do not supply or install hardware.

Yes. You can choose between genres and curated playlists so the music fits your business and your customers - lounge, chill, jazz, hip hop, pop, R&B and more. You can also build your own playlists and schedule them.

If you move to a solution where the rights are already cleared, you can in many cases cancel or change your existing music licence. We always recommend reviewing your current agreements before making changes. Note that you cancel your existing suppliers yourself.

Yes. Soundhero is used in clinics, wellness centres, hair salons, gyms, offices and hotels, as well as in shops and restaurants.

It is simple:

1. Create an account through the sign-up form
2. Get access to the platform immediately
3. Start streaming music in your business

You get an 8-day free trial, so you can test the solution with no lock-in and without giving payment details.

Yes. You can deal with us entirely in English - by phone, by email or on a call. Our app interface and the customer agreement are currently in Danish; if that matters for your business, tell us when you get in touch and we will walk you through it.

You are always welcome to contact us. We are happy to help with choosing a solution, calculating your saving and setting up music in your business.

Email: info@soundhero.dk
Phone: +45 39 40 28 20