Music for School Cafeterias
School Cafeterias playing recorded music publicly require a music licence from the relevant collecting society in their country. BPM recommendations vary by period: Lunch period: 90–115 BPM. Track Studios' AI catalog is not registered with any collecting society — venues using it are not billed for the included music.
BPM Recommendations
| Time Period | BPM Range | Genres | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch period | 90–115 BPM | Upbeat Pop, Light Hip-Hop, Indie Pop | Moderate-to-fast tempo during lunch periods supports efficient seating turnover in high-footfall educational settings. |
Supporting Research
- In-Store Music Affects Product Choice (1999)
Playing background music at slower tempos in a restaurant during lunch increased the average time spent at table by 11 minutes compared to faster tempos. Food spending was unaffected but beverage spending increased significantly under slow-tempo conditions.
Music Licensing for School Cafeterias by Country
| Country | Collecting Societies | Estimated Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Sweden | STIM + SAMI | SEK Varies/year |
| Norway | TONO + Gramo | NOK Varies/year |
| Denmark | KODA + Gramex | DKK Varies/year |
| Finland | Teosto + Gramex | EUR Varies/year |
| Germany | GEMA + GVL | EUR Varies/year |
| Netherlands | Buma/Stemra + SENA | EUR Varies/year |
| Belgium | SABAM + PlayRight | EUR Varies/year |
| France | SACEM | EUR Varies/year |
| United Kingdom | PRS + PPL | GBP Varies/year |
| United States | ASCAP + BMI + SESAC + GMR + SoundExchange | USD Varies/year |
| Canada | SOCAN + Re:Sound | CAD Varies/year |
| Australia | APRA AMCOS + PPCA | AUD Varies/year |
Royalty-Free Music for School Cafeterias
Track Studios provides business music that is not registered with any collecting society. School Cafeterias using the included catalog are not invoiced by STIM, GEMA, PRS, ASCAP, or other PROs.
Start free trialFrequently Asked Questions
- Do school cafeterias need a music licence?
- Yes. In most countries, playing recorded music in a school cafeteria is a public performance that requires a licence from the relevant collecting society — for example, GEMA in Germany, TheMusicLicence (PRS + PPL) in the UK, or ASCAP and BMI in the USA. Track Studios' AI catalog is not registered with any of these societies, so school cafeterias using it are not invoiced for the included music.
- Can school cafeterias use Spotify legally?
- No. Spotify's Terms of Service (§1.2) restrict use to "personal, non-commercial purposes." Using Spotify in a school cafeteria violates these terms and may also expose the business to claims from collecting societies for the underlying music rights. Spotify for Business was discontinued in 2019.
- What is the ideal BPM for school cafeterias?
- BPM recommendations vary by time period. During lunch period, 90–115 BPM is recommended (genres: Upbeat Pop, Light Hip-Hop).
- How can school cafeterias avoid collecting society fees?
- Use music that is not registered with collecting societies. Track Studios uses an AI-generated catalog that is not registered with STIM, GEMA, PRS, ASCAP, BMI, or any other collecting society. School Cafeterias using the included catalog are not invoiced by these organisations.
- What happens if a school cafeteria is caught playing music without a licence?
- The collecting society can issue a civil claim for back-fees (typically covering 2–3 years of unlicensed use), plus additional damages. In Germany, the Berlin fitness studio case resulted in €42,000 in damages. In the USA, statutory damages can reach $150,000 per infringed work.