SAMPLED

Rights, royalties and the business · updated 2026-08-16

BLANKET LICENCE

One licence covering a whole repertoire rather than a song at a time. It is how radio, venues and streaming services clear performances at scale.

A singer signing a music publishing contract with a publisher across a table — the deal paperwork behind the rights, royalty and publishing terms defined here.
Rights, royalties and the business — A singer signing a music publishing contract with a publisher across a table — the deal paperwork behind the rights, royalty and publishing terms defined here.

Photo: Katherine Jenkins signing her publishing deal at Rive Droite Music (opens in a new tab) by Danott (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 3.0 (opens in a new tab)

Key takeaways

  • One licence covering a whole repertoire rather than a song at a time.
  • It is how radio, venues and streaming services clear performances at scale.
  • It is what allows a radio station or a bar to play music legally without per-track negotiation.
  • A venue's PRO licences are why a covers band can perform without clearing every song themselves.
  • Watch out: assuming a venue licence covers recording or streaming the performance.

Quick checklist

  • Can you define blanket licence in one sentence without looking?
  • Can you point at blanket licence in a real session, mix or contract?
  • Have you tried the practical move above at least once?
  • Would you catch the common mistake before it costs you a take?
  • Have you opened one of the primary sources below rather than a forum thread?

BLANKET LICENCE IN DEPTH

A blanket licence lets a venue, broadcaster or service use an entire repertoire for a single fee rather than clearing songs individually. It is what allows a radio station or a bar to play music legally without per-track negotiation.

How it works in practice

A venue's PRO licences are why a covers band can perform without clearing every song themselves.

The mistake people make

Assuming a venue licence covers recording or streaming the performance. Those are different rights and usually need separate clearance.

WHERE BLANKET LICENCE SITS

Blanket licence belongs to rights, royalties and the business in the Sampled music glossary. The words on your split sheet, your distribution dashboard and your royalty statement.

TERMS THAT DEPEND ON BLANKET LICENCE

  • Mechanical royalty

    Paid to songwriters and publishers for reproductions, including interactive streams. In the US, the MLC administers the blanket licence.

TEST YOURSELF

0/3 answered · 0 correct

3 quick questions on blanket licence. Answers are marked instantly — nothing is sent anywhere.

  1. 1. Which statement best describes blanket licence?

  2. 2. What is the mistake people most often make with blanket licence?

  3. 3. In practice, which of these applies to blanket licence?

Ready for the full thing? Take the 25-question terminology test and get a certificate with your name and score.

SOURCES AND CITATIONS

Free, primary references for blanket licence — standards bodies, manufacturers, government offices and university course material. Each one lists the line of this entry it backs up.

  • U.S. Copyright Office — music licensing (opens in a new tab)

    Government registry · U.S. Copyright Office

    “One licence covering a whole repertoire rather than a song at a time.”— the claim this source supports

    Why it counts: This is the office that actually administers the right being described, so its wording governs in a dispute.

  • WIPO — collective management (opens in a new tab)

    Intergovernmental body · World Intellectual Property Organization

    “It is how radio, venues and streaming services clear performances at scale.”— the claim this source supports

    Why it counts: WIPO sets out how the right works across borders, which is where most confusion about the term starts.

RELATED TERMS IN RIGHTS, ROYALTIES AND THE BUSINESS

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