Music Licensing for Walk-Up Songs & Youth Sports
What teams, leagues, parks and Team DJs should know about game-day music
Walk-up songs have become a huge part of youth baseball and softball.
Music is a big part of what makes game day special.
A player's name is announced. Their walk-up song starts. They step toward the plate feeling like they're playing in the big leagues.
BallparkDJ gives teams the flexibility to create those moments with the music their players love — while also offering a fully licensed music option for teams and organizations that want it.
What Does Music Licensing Mean for Game Day?
There is a difference between having access to a song and having the rights needed to play that music publicly.
When popular commercial music is played at a ballpark, field, gym or other public venue, the organization responsible for the facility may need public-performance licensing.
That responsibility generally belongs with the park, league, school, municipality or facility — not the individual parent, coach or Team DJ pressing play.
Your organization may already have licensing in place.
Many parks, leagues, schools, municipalities and other venues already maintain blanket music licensing that covers commercial music played at their facilities and sporting events. If you're not sure, simply check with the organization that operates your fields or facility — you may already be covered. your fields or facility.
BallparkDJ's Approach to Music Licensing
In more than a decade of operating BallparkDJ and serving more than 675,000 teams, we have not received reports from users of music-rights issues at their games. Still, we believe parks and organizations should understand and appropriately address music licensing. Artists, songwriters and publishers are compensated in different ways — including through licensed music services such as Apple Music and through public-performance licensing — so respecting those rights matters. BallparkDJ also makes a substantial annual investment in music licensing through our partnership with Epidemic Sound, giving organizations a fully licensed option directly inside BallparkDJ.
Can We Still Use Popular Commercial Music With BallparkDJ?
Absolutely.
BallparkDJ gives teams the flexibility to use supported music sources and create the walk-up experience their players want.
If your team uses popular commercial music at games, your park, league or organization should determine whether any required public-performance licensing is already in place.
For most Team DJs, the park or organization handles this at the facility level.
Want a Fully Licensed Music Option?
BallparkDJ has one built in.
BallparkDJ has partnered with Epidemic Sound to provide users with an extensive catalog of music where the applicable music rights are already covered through BallparkDJ.
When you use music from the Epidemic Sound catalog inside BallparkDJ:
✓ Public-performance rights are covered
✓ The music can be played by BallparkDJ users at games and events
✓ No separate public-performance license is required for those tracks
✓ No additional music licensing fee is required from the team or player
That makes Epidemic Sound an easy option for teams, leagues and facilities that want great game-day music without having to worry about separate licensing for those songs.
Two Ways to Bring Music to Game Day
Use the Popular Music Your Players Love
BallparkDJ lets Team DJs create walk-up moments using supported commercial music sources.
Your park, league, school or organization should make sure any required public-performance licensing for commercial music is in place.
Use Fully Licensed Music Through BallparkDJ
Choose music from BallparkDJ's integrated Epidemic Sound catalog.
The applicable music rights — including public-performance rights for playback by BallparkDJ users at games and events — are already covered through BallparkDJ.
No separate public-performance license is needed for those tracks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does BallparkDJ provide fully licensed music?
Yes.
BallparkDJ provides an integrated catalog of music from Epidemic Sound. Under BallparkDJ's agreement with Epidemic Sound, the music rights needed for BallparkDJ users to play those tracks at games and events — including public-performance rights — are covered.
Do players have to pay individually to use BallparkDJ's licensed Epidemic Sound music?
No.
Players do not need to individually purchase licensing rights for music provided through BallparkDJ's Epidemic Sound integration.
Can we still use popular songs with BallparkDJ?
Yes.
BallparkDJ gives teams the flexibility to use supported commercial music sources. The park, league, school or organization responsible for the facility should determine whether the appropriate public-performance licensing is in place for commercial music played there.
What if we're not sure whether our park is licensed?
Ask your league, park, school, city or facility administrator whether the organization already has music licensing that covers commercial music played at sporting events.
Many organizations already do.
And if you'd rather use music where the applicable rights are already handled, BallparkDJ's Epidemic Sound catalog gives you that option.
More Than a Song. Create the Whole Walk-Up Moment.
BallparkDJ isn't just about pressing play.
It's about the moment when a young athlete hears their name announced, their music starts and they step toward the plate with a little more confidence and a lot more energy.
BallparkDJ brings together professional player introductions, walk-up music and game-day tools to help Team DJs create those moments.
Professional introductions ordered through BallparkDJ are produced specifically for your players and teams and can be played freely through BallparkDJ at their games and events without any additional licensing or usage fees. Team DJs can creatively combine those introductions with their music to build unique, dynamic walk-up moments for every player.
And when music licensing matters to your team or organization, BallparkDJ gives you a fully licensed music option built right in.
Are You a Park, League, School or Facility Operator?
Want to learn more about licensing popular commercial music at your facility?
We will be putting together a simple guide explaining where to start, what to ask and how organizations can obtain the appropriate music rights for their games and events.