Do I Need a Music Licence for My Business?

If you play music in your shop, café, restaurant, gym, or salon in Australia — here's what you need to know.

Short answer: yes, almost certainly.

If you play music that customers or staff can hear — whether it's from Spotify, the radio, a USB stick, CDs, or any streaming service — you need a licence to play it commercially. This applies to businesses of all sizes, from a single-chair barbershop to a multi-location retail chain.

In Australia, commercial music use is governed by the Copyright Act 1968. Businesses that play unlicensed music can be pursued by APRA AMCOS and PPCA (now operating together as OneMusic Australia) for back-payment, penalties, and legal action.

Does my situation require a licence?

🎵 Playing Spotify in my shop

Spotify's terms of service only cover personal use. Playing it in a business is a violation — even with a Premium account. You'd still need a OneMusic licence on top.

⚠ Licence required

📻 Playing the radio

Playing a radio broadcast in a business where customers can hear it requires a OneMusic licence. The radio station's licence only covers the broadcast itself, not your premises.

⚠ Licence required

💿 Playing CDs or USB music

Buying a CD or downloading a song gives you a personal use licence. Playing it in a commercial setting requires a separate OneMusic licence.

⚠ Licence required

📱 Playing YouTube or Apple Music

Same as Spotify — personal streaming services explicitly prohibit commercial use in their terms of service. A OneMusic licence is still required.

⚠ Licence required

🔇 No music at all

If you don't play any music in your business, you don't need a music licence. But your customers might prefer some background music.

✓ No licence needed

🎧 Playing Melodial

Melodial owns or directly licences every track. Your subscription is your commercial licence — no OneMusic, no APRA AMCOS, no PPCA fees required.

✓ Licence included

What happens if I don't have a licence?

OneMusic Australia (the joint licensing body for APRA AMCOS and PPCA) actively monitors businesses for unlicensed music use. They use technology like Audoo's music recognition devices to identify what's being played in venues — and they send inspectors unannounced.

Back-payment and legal action. Under the Copyright Act 1968, businesses caught playing unlicensed music can face demands for back-payment of licence fees — sometimes going back years. APRA AMCOS has the statutory authority to pursue legal action, and they do. It's not a warning — it's an invoice.

"I didn't know" is not a defence. Ignorance of licensing requirements does not protect you from enforcement. If music is playing and customers can hear it, you're responsible for having the right licence.

What does a OneMusic licence actually cost?

OneMusic Australia fees vary based on your business type, size, and how you use music. Here's what typical small businesses pay — and it doesn't include a music source.

Small retail shop

From $250–$600+ per year for recorded music, depending on floor area.

Café or restaurant

From $500–$1,860+ per year, based on seating capacity and whether you have a TV or live music.

Hair or beauty salon

From $250–$500+ per year for background music via speakers.

Gym or fitness studio

From $1,600–$5,000+ per year, especially if you run classes with music.

OneMusic fees cover the licence only — you still need to pay for a music source (streaming service, CDs, etc.) on top. Melodial includes both the music and the licence.

The easiest way to get licensed

With OneMusic, you're paying for the right to play someone else's music — and you still need to pay for a music source on top. With Melodial, you get the music and the licence in one subscription.

Melodial — music + licence in one

$9.99/month

or $99.99/year — everything included

Melodial gives you thousands of background music tracks and a full commercial licence in one subscription. We own or directly licence every track, so you don't need OneMusic, APRA AMCOS, or PPCA. Subscribe, press play, and you're covered.

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Certificate of Compliance included. Every Melodial subscriber gets a downloadable Certificate of Compliance — proof that your music is fully licensed for commercial use. If OneMusic or APRA AMCOS contacts you, show them the certificate.

Want to see the full cost breakdown? Compare Melodial to OneMusic →

Get licensed in 3 minutes

1
Subscribe — sign up at melodial.com for $9.99/month or $99.99/year. No contracts, cancel anytime.
2
Press play — choose from curated streams or build your own playlists. Music starts immediately via the web player or mobile app.
3
Download your certificate — your Certificate of Compliance is ready instantly. You're fully licensed.

Frequently asked questions

Can I just play Spotify? I already pay for Premium.
No. Spotify Premium is a personal use licence. Their terms of service explicitly prohibit playing music in a commercial setting — even if you're paying for it. The same applies to Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube, and every other personal streaming service. On top of that, you'd still need a OneMusic licence for the performing rights — which is an additional cost. Playing them in your business without the right licences puts you at risk.
What is OneMusic Australia?
OneMusic Australia is the joint music licensing body operated by APRA AMCOS (which represents songwriters and publishers) and PPCA (which represents record labels and artists). If you play commercially released music in your business, you need a OneMusic licence. Fees vary by business type and size, and can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per year — and that doesn't include a music source.
Can I really cancel my OneMusic licence?
Yes — as long as you play Melodial exclusively and don't play any other commercially released music (radio, CDs, Spotify, etc.). Your Melodial Certificate of Compliance proves your music is fully licensed. Contact OneMusic to cancel your existing licence once you've made the switch.
How is Melodial so much cheaper than OneMusic?
OneMusic collects royalties on behalf of songwriters, publishers, and record labels — that's why the fees are high. Melodial owns or directly licences every track in our catalogue. No middlemen, no royalty payments to APRA AMCOS or PPCA. That's why we can offer everything — music and licence — for $9.99/month.
Do you have mainstream artists like Tame Impala or Vance Joy?
No — and that's exactly why it's so affordable. Mainstream artists are registered with APRA AMCOS, which is why playing their music requires a OneMusic licence. Our catalogue is made up of independent tracks curated for commercial environments — café acoustic, jazz, chill pop, lo-fi, upbeat dance, and more. Your customers want the right atmosphere, not a specific artist.
What if I play Melodial and occasionally play the radio too?
Your Melodial certificate only covers Melodial music. If you also play radio, CDs, Spotify, or any other commercially released music, you still need a OneMusic licence for that music. To be fully covered with just your Melodial subscription, play Melodial exclusively.
What if APRA AMCOS or OneMusic contacts me?
Show them your Melodial Certificate of Compliance. It proves your music is fully licensed and not part of the APRA AMCOS or PPCA catalogues. If they continue to press, email us at info@melodial.com and we'll help you respond.
My business is very small. Do I still need a licence?
Yes. There is no size exemption under the Copyright Act 1968. Whether you're a one-person barbershop, a small café, or a large retail chain — if customers or staff can hear music, you need the right licence. APRA AMCOS and OneMusic have pursued businesses of all sizes.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. No contracts, no cancellation fees. Go to your account page and click Manage Subscriptions. Your access continues until the end of your current billing period.

Get licensed today for $9.99/month

Don't risk a fine from APRA AMCOS. Get fully licensed background music for your business in under 3 minutes. Free trial — no card required.

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