Hotel Music — Licence Included
Skip OneMusic. Get fully licensed background music for your hotel — just $9.99/month. Music and licence in one subscription. No collecting society fees.
14-day free trial · No credit card required · Cancel anytime
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What hotels actually pay for music
Hotels face some of the highest music licensing fees of any business. Collecting societies charge per zone — lobby, restaurant, bar, spa, pool, gym, corridors — and per room if in-room music is provided. A mid-size hotel can easily pay thousands per year before a music source is even factored in. Melodial replaces both.
| Hotel Size | Spotify + OneMusic | Melodial |
|---|---|---|
| B&B / boutique hotel lobby + breakfast room |
$800+/yrlicence + streaming | $99.99/yrmusic + licence included |
| Mid-size hotel lobby, restaurant, bar |
$2,500+/yrlicence + streaming | $99.99/yrmusic + licence included |
| Large hotel multiple zones + spa + gym |
$5,000+/yrlicence + streaming | $99.99/yrmusic + licence included |
| Compliant for commercial use? | ✗ Spotify prohibits it | ✓ Built for business |
| Certificate of Compliance | ✗ Not available | ✓ Instant download |
Fees based on published OneMusic rate schedules. Traditional licensing does not include a music source. Does not include in-room entertainment fees.
How can we skip OneMusic?
OneMusic collects fees for music registered with collecting societies. If you play mainstream music in any public area — lobby, restaurant, bar, corridors, spa — you owe them a licence fee for each zone. Hotels typically pay the most of any business type.
Melodial is different. We own or directly licence every track in our catalogue. None of our music is registered with OneMusic (APRA AMCOS + PPCA) or any other collecting society. No royalties to collect means no licence fees to pay.
Your Melodial subscription is your licence. One flat price covers all public areas — lobby, restaurant, bar, spa, gym, pool, corridors. No per-zone or per-room charges.
Certificate of Compliance included. Every subscriber gets an official certificate proving your music is fully licensed. If OneMusic or any licensing body contacts your hotel, show them the certificate. You're covered. And if you need help responding, forward us their email — we'll draft the reply.
The three rights you need to play music commercially
Recording rights
The right to stream a specific sound recording of a song.
✓ Covered by Melodial
Publishing rights
The right to use the underlying composition and lyrics.
✓ Covered by Melodial
Public performance rights
The right to play music in a commercial environment where guests can hear it.
✓ Covered by Melodial
Melodial owns or directly licences every track. None of our music is registered with any collecting society, so no collecting society fees apply.
Two ways to legally play music in your hotel
| OneMusic licence | Melodial | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A licence covering mainstream music. Music not included. Each zone (lobby, restaurant, bar, spa) charged separately. | An all-in-one subscription. Music and commercial licence for all public areas in one payment. |
| You need this if | You play chart hits, radio, or specific mainstream tracks in public areas. | You want professional atmosphere music at a fixed price — with no per-zone fees. |
| How it works | Annual fee per zone, based on area size and music use. Music source not included. | $9.99/month flat. All public areas covered. Certificate of Compliance included instantly. |
Playing Spotify in your lobby or restaurant? Spotify's terms prohibit commercial use — even with Premium. You still need a licence from OneMusic for every zone where music is audible. Melodial replaces both the music and the licence across all your public areas.
What happens if you play unlicensed music?
OneMusic actively contacts businesses. They send letters, make phone calls, and use music recognition technology to detect unlicensed music.
The penalties are real. Collecting societies can apply back charges for up to six years of prior unlicensed music use, plus a 50% surcharge on your first year if you were playing music without a licence before being contacted. Playing copyright-protected music without a licence is an infringement under the Copyright Act 1968.
With Melodial, you're fully compliant from the moment you subscribe. No risk, no paperwork, no surprises.
Playlists for every area of your hotel
Different zones need different moods. Melodial has playlists for every space — from lobby and restaurant to spa and pool. No explicit lyrics, no jarring transitions.
Smooth Sounds
Warm · Polished · Inviting
Easy listening for lobbies and reception areas — welcoming from check-in.
White Tablecloths
Warm · Elegant · Timeless
Soft jazz, piano, and acoustic ballads for your hotel restaurant.
Bossa Nova
Elegant · Breezy · Sophisticated
Brazilian jazz for the bar, lounge, or poolside.
Ambient
Calm · Spacious · Peaceful
Gentle textures for your spa, wellness centre, or relaxation areas.
Plus 50+ more playlists across 24 genres — classical, lo-fi, pop, soul, jazz, and more.
Built for multi-zone hospitality
Play different playlists in different areas — upbeat pop in the lobby, elegant jazz in the restaurant, ambient in the spa. One subscription covers every public zone in your hotel. You can also create AI voice announcements for guest information, event promotions, or welcome messages — no recording equipment needed.
Switch in 3 minutes
Frequently asked questions
Does one subscription cover all zones in my hotel?
Is this really a legal alternative to OneMusic?
Can I play different music in different areas?
What about in-room entertainment?
What if OneMusic contacts our hotel?
Do you have mainstream artists?
Can I cancel anytime?
Note: If your hotel specifically requires Top 40 hits in the bar or branded mainstream playlists, you will still need a licence from OneMusic for those areas. Melodial is for hotels that want professional atmosphere music without the premium cost of mainstream licensing.
Every zone covered. No licence headaches.
Fully licensed hotel music — $9.99/month. All public areas included. Try it free for 14 days.
14-day free trial · No credit card required · Cancel anytime
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We've sent a link to . Click it to set your name and password — takes 30 seconds.