Meaning of the word "he who pays the piper, calls the tune" in English

What does "he who pays the piper, calls the tune" mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

he who pays the piper, calls the tune

US /hiː huː peɪz ðə ˈpaɪ.pɚ kɔːlz ðə tuːn/
UK /hiː huː peɪz ðə ˈpaɪ.pə kɔːlz ðə tjuːn/
"he who pays the piper, calls the tune" picture

Idiom

the person who provides the money for something should also be the one who decides how it is spent or done

Example:
The sponsor wants to change the event's theme, and since he who pays the piper calls the tune, we have to agree.
I don't like the new rules, but he who pays the piper calls the tune.