Music in Hospitality: Creating the Right Atmosphere or Creating Legal Risks?
Music is an essential part of the atmosphere in HoReCa establishments. It moulds guests’ impressions, influences their mood, and enhances their overall experience in restaurants, cafés, bars, and hotels. At the same time, the use of music involves legal considerations that often remain overlooked by businesses.
Most establishments play music every day without realizing that its use may require appropriate legal authorization. In fact, many business owners begin to consider these issues only when they need to obtain permission to use music or are served with their first claims regarding unauthorized use.
These are precisely the issues addressed by the «Play & Pay: Use Music Legally» series of strategic sessions. The sessions are designed as interactive discussions featuring practical scenarios, analysis of real-life cases, and Q&A with experts. The primary focus will be on the challenges businesses encounter in their day-to-day operations.
The First Strategic Session for HoReCa Professionals
The first event in the series, «Music for Guests or an Unexpected Bill: Copyright in the HoReCa Sector», will take place on July 28, 2026, at 4:00 PM (Kyiv time).
The session is intended for owners, executives, administrators, and managers of restaurants, cafés, bars, hotels, and other HoReCa businesses seeking to ensure that their use of music complies with copyright legislation and current business practices.
During the session, participants will work through real-life scenarios commonly faced by HoReCa establishments, analyze practical case studies, and, together with experts, develop practical approaches to the lawful use of music.
Participants will have the opportunity to:
- identify which intellectual property objects are used in their business operations and determine which require appropriate legal authorization;
- assess whether their current music-use practices comply with applicable legislation and identify the issues that deserve immediate attention;
- examine common mistakes made by HoReCa businesses and learn how to avoid them;
- determine when permission is required to use music, who grants such permission, and how the licensing system operates;
- receive expert answers to questions related to their own business and obtain practical recommendations.
Following the strategic session, participants will be able to assess their current music use for legal compliance, identify priority risk areas, and outline concrete steps to secure proper licensing for their venues.
Speakers
- Olha Kulinich – Head of the Intellectual Property Academy Department at UANIPIO, Doctor of Law, Associate Professor;
- Kateryna Vlasenko – Head of the Legal Department of the NGO «Ukrainian Agency for Copyright and Related Rights».
Date and Format
Date: July 28, 2026, at 4:00 PM (Kyiv time)
Format: Online (Zoom)
Participation in the strategic session is free of charge. All participants attending the event will receive a certificate of participation.
Register HERE.
Please note that registration is open until July 27, 2026 (inclusive).
Participants are also encouraged to prepare their questions or share examples from their own professional practice in advance. Part of the session will be dedicated to discussing these cases and identifying practical solutions together with the experts.