ThonRightsThon Rights/Atlas/Philippines/Venue
Philippines live
Background music in Philippines venues
Philippines Intellectual Property Code: public performance needs a licence. FILSCAP is the IPOPHL-accredited CMO for musical works. Recordings may still need PRM / SRRS — not a single LMKN window, not Vietnam NĐ 17.
- Number / status: FILSCAP publishes annual rate cards (see IPOPHL — Updated Rate Cards as of January 2026). Illustrative older restaurant card structure: Metro Manila mechanical ≤50 seats ~₱8,858/year net of VAT; provincial lower; +40% if you used the repertoire before licensing. Always use the current Jan 2026 card — and add recording CMOs when playing masters.
- Who to pay: FILSCAP · PRM / SRRS (and others if accredited). Keep the invoice / licence in the premises’ name and address.
- Not this: A final invoice from Thon · legal advice · collecting for CMOs. Verify before you wire.
Example — FILSCAP publishes annual rate cards (see IPOPHL — Updated Rate Cards as of January 2026). Illustrative older restaurant card structure: Metro Manila mechanical ≤50 seats ~₱8,858/year net of VAT; provincial lower; +40% if you used the repertoire before licensing. Always use the current Jan 2026 card — and add recording CMOs when playing masters.
Metro Manila mechanical ≤50 seats → /ph/app/ ≈ ₱8,857.81/năm (works, net VAT trên card đã neo). Provincial thấp hơn. Cộng recording CMO. Kiểm tra card Jan 2026 trên IPOPHL trước khi nộp.
Who to pay
- FILSCAP — IPOPHL-accredited CMO — musical works public performance · site
- PRM / SRRS (and others if accredited) — Sound recordings — separate accredited CMOs; FILSCAP works licence ≠ masters
Proof — what to keep
- FILSCAP licence for the premises + current rate-card class
- Recording-CMO certificate when masters are played
- Seat / area basis matching the invoice
- Keep IPOPHL accreditation screenshot if a collector is unfamiliar
Legal basis
- Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines (RA 8293, as amended)
- IPOPHL CMO accreditation regime
- FILSCAP rate cards (Jan 2026 update on IPOPHL)
- PRM / SRRS rate cards when applicable
Works vs recordings
FILSCAP blankets musical compositions in its repertoire. Playing Spotify/TV still involves sound recordings — check PRM/SRRS. Malaysia needs three doors by design; Philippines splits by accredited CMO type.
Not Indonesia maths
Do not convert LMKN per-seat rupiah into pesos. FILSCAP uses its own Metro Manila vs provincial seat bands and updates yearly.
Enforcement wave
FILSCAP is expanding compliance beyond Metro Manila with retail and broadcast partners. Proof before the demand letter.