MOH Licensing: What You Need to Know About Music on Hold Compliance
When you put callers on hold, the music they hear isn’t just background noise—it’s MOH licensing, a legal requirement for playing copyrighted music during VoIP call holds. Also known as Music on Hold licensing, it’s not a suggestion. If you’re using any song, playlist, or commercial audio in your VoIP system, you’re likely violating copyright law unless you have the right permissions.
Most businesses think they’re safe because they play music from Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube. They’re wrong. Those services are for personal use only. Playing them in a business setting—especially over a phone system—requires public performance licenses. Organizations like ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC control the rights to millions of songs. Without a license from them, you risk fines up to $150,000 per violation. And yes, the law applies to small businesses too. Even if you only have five employees and one phone line, you still need to comply. This isn’t just about music. It’s about VoIP compliance, the legal obligations tied to how voice systems handle audio, recordings, and public broadcasts. If your system plays audio during hold, you’re broadcasting. And broadcasting copyrighted content without permission is illegal.
What about royalty-free music? That’s your safest bet. Many VoIP providers offer built-in libraries of licensed tracks that are cleared for business use. Or you can subscribe to services like AudioJungle, PremiumBeat, or Soundstripe, which sell licenses specifically for commercial use. But even then, read the fine print. Some licenses only cover internal use, not phone systems. And don’t assume that because your provider says it’s "compliant," they’ve covered everything. You’re ultimately responsible. This ties directly into call center legal risks, the exposure businesses face from improper use of audio, recordings, and third-party content in customer interactions. One unlicensed song played for 30 seconds can trigger a lawsuit. The same way you wouldn’t play a movie in your office without a license, don’t play music on hold without one.
You’ll find posts below that dig into how to pick safe audio, how to audit your current system, and which VoIP providers include built-in licensed MOH. Some even show you how to set up your own royalty-free library without spending a dime. You’ll also see how MOH licensing connects to other legal areas like call recording rules and data privacy. This isn’t about being paranoid. It’s about being smart. Skip the risk. Get it right the first time.
