In Germany they do, taxis pay their dues. Compared to the US we are special. We have to pay to GEZ to legally receive public sector broadcasters. AFAIK they don't pay GEMA yet (GEMA is the German equivalent to BMI and other PROs).

If a musician is hired to play in a public accessible venue, two things happen:
1. The business owner has to notify GEMA about the event.
2. The musician has to provide a playlist to the owner.

If this playlist is all license-free music, then nobody has to pay. If this playlist has one tune included that is registered with GEMA or any of her sister origanizations in another country, then the entire event is to be licensed.

There are too many different fees to list. Here is the fee for bars and restaurants and such playing music from sound carriers.
While the fee itself might be substantial in a total perspective, for most venues it is assessable. The fee depends on the size of the venue in square meters. For a bar providing background music without dancing the annual fee is between 185.80 and 541.30 Euros plus VAT. For a small bar that is 50 Euro-Cents a day for a big one it's about € 1.50.

I suspect that it is similar in the US.

Last edited by GHinCH; 05/24/15 06:24 AM.
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