Get your MRSS music licence
MRSS is separate from COMPASS — it licenses the sound-recording right (the rights of record labels and performers in the actual recorded track), while COMPASS covers the composition and performing right.
Not yet independently verified — check the source link: MRSS's fee schedule for restaurants/cafés wasn't retrievable this pass (the tariff PDF wasn't reachable) — contact MRSS directly for the current rate rather than relying on a figure here.
MRSS is separate from COMPASS — it licenses the sound-recording right (the rights of record labels and performers in the actual recorded track), while COMPASS covers the composition and performing right. If you play recorded or live music in public, you generally need both.
Holding a COMPASS licence alone does not cover the sound-recording right — playing music without an MRSS licence when required is still an infringement of that separate right, and MRSS can pursue it the same way COMPASS can for its own right.
Who this is for
Any venue playing recorded or live music that customers or staff can hear.
No exemption for background-only use or low volume.
What you’ll hold
- MRSS public performance licence
Watch out for
- Assuming COMPASS alone covers you — MRSS is a separate licence for a separate right, and you typically need both if you play recorded or live music.
- Delaying the application because the fee isn't published online — contact MRSS directly rather than assuming it's bundled with your COMPASS fee.
- Only licensing one venue when you operate multiple sites — sound-recording rights licensing is typically per-premises.
Sources
- MRSS — About checked 2026-09-08
- COMPASS — Difference between COMPASS and MRSS checked 2026-09-08
See also
This is item 22 of 36 in the free Singapore Launch Checklist. See the whole list →