The radio is on, customers hear music, and the shop owner assumes the broadcaster has already dealt with copyright. The broadcaster has—but its licence covers broadcasting the signal. Playing that signal to customers in a business is a separate use.
Where does the myth come from?
A radio station pays for the rights needed to broadcast music to its listeners. It is tempting to think that this payment follows the signal wherever it goes. In Polish copyright practice, however, private reception and public communication in a commercial venue are not the same thing. The shop benefits from music as part of the customer experience, so it is the shop’s use that also needs a legal basis.
What does the law say?
Playing protected radio music in a shop accessible to customers is generally treated as public performance or communication. The exact obligations depend on the repertoire and circumstances, but mainstream recordings commonly involve three layers of rights:
