If you play music in your business, there is a good chance the answer is yes.
In Australia, a music licence is usually required when music is played in a public or commercial setting. That applies across hospitality, retail and service provider businesses. Cafes, restaurants, bars, shops, salons, clinics, gyms, office receptions, medical practices and many other business spaces can all fall within that rule.
The reason is simple. Playing music in a business is not treated the same way as listening at home or in the car. Once music becomes part of a public environment, permission is usually needed from the copyright owners.
Why this gets confusing so quickly
Most business owners are not trying to cut corners. They are trying to get on with running the venue. The confusion usually starts because music licensing sounds more complicated than it should.
One business owner thinks radio must be fine because it is free to air. Another assumes a personal Spotify account covers the space because the subscription is paid. Someone else believes a licence only matters if there is live entertainment.
Those assumptions are common. They are also risky.
What counts as playing music publicly?
OneMusic Australia describes this as public performance. In practical terms, if customers, visitors or staff can hear music in your space, it is usually being used publicly.
That can include background music through speakers, commercial radio in a shop, music channels on a TV, or tracks streamed into a waiting room or salon. It does not need to be loud, featured or ticketed to count.
Which businesses usually need to think about this?
The answer covers far more than bars and venues.
Hospitality businesses often need licensing because music shapes the customer environment across breakfast, lunch, dinner and late trade.
Retail businesses often need licensing because music is part of the store atmosphere and part of the staff environment too.
Professional service businesses also need to think about it. That includes salons, clinics, gyms, office receptions and other customer-facing settings like medical and allied health where music is audible in the space.
What does OneMusic Australia do?
OneMusic Australia is the joint licensing initiative of APRA AMCOS and PPCA. It provides permission from copyright owners for the use of the vast majority of commercial music in Australian businesses.
That matters because a song involves more than one right. There are rights connected to the musical work and rights connected to the sound recording. OneMusic creates a simpler licensing path for many common business uses of music in Australia.
A licence is only one part of the picture
This is the part that trips people up.
A OneMusic licence deals with permission to use music publicly in your business. It does not supply the music itself. OneMusic says this clearly in its FAQs. It licences the rights to play music in businesses, regardless of how that music is sourced.
That means a business also needs to think about where the music is coming from and whether that source is suitable for commercial use.
Personal streaming music services cannot be used for business.
Spotify says its standard service is only for personal, non-commercial use. Apple's Australian media terms say the services and content are for personal, non-commercial purposes. YouTube's terms say content may be viewed or listened to for personal, non-commercial use.
That matters because a OneMusic licence does not override the terms of those services. OneMusic states this too. So even if a business has the right public performance permission in place, using a personal streaming account in your business creates liability and risk. A copyright infringement lawsuit is the last thing a business needs.
What about radio or TV?
This is another common grey area.
OneMusic says music on free-to-air TV or radio played in a business is still a public performance and still needs permission from copyright owners. It also notes that deductions may be available in some licence categories where radio or TV is the only music source.
So radio is not a blanket exemption. It still sits inside the licensing picture.
How this works in a real business
In a cafe, music might start softly in the morning, lift through lunch and settle again later in the afternoon. In a retail store, the music needs to suit the brand and still feel good for staff on a long shift. In a clinic, the aim is usually calm, professional and low distraction.
The atmosphere changes from one business type to another, but the legal principle is much the same. If music is part of the business environment, the venue usually needs the right permission in place and a compliant source of music that is suitable for commercial use.
The simplest way to think about it
There are two questions to ask.
First, does this business need permission to play music publicly?
Second, is the music source itself appropriate for business use?
When those two pieces line up, the setup becomes far clearer.
Where POSmusic fits
POSmusic is built for business use, giving businesses access to professionally curated playlists and music tools designed for commercial spaces. For eligible business types like Retail / Service Providers and Dining, a OneMusic license can be optionally added during POSmusic sign-up or afterward in your POSmusic Account Settings.
That means businesses are not left piecing together personal apps, separate suppliers and guesswork. They can sort out the music side and the licensing path in a way that is cleaner and more practical from the start. It's fast, easy to understand and a 100% compliant music solution for your business.
Final thought
If you are unsure whether your business needs a music licence, the safest place to start is with the reality of the space. If people can hear music in the venue, there is a strong chance the answer is yes.
From there, the goal is not to become an expert in copyright law. It is to make sure your venue has the right permission and the right music source in place so you can focus on the customer experience without risk and the worry of a possible copyright infringement lawsuit.
FAQs
Q: Do all businesses in Australia need a music licence?
A: Not every business use is identical, but a licence is usually required if music is played in a public or commercial setting where customers, visitors or staff can hear it.
Q: Does a OneMusic licence supply the music too?
A: No. OneMusic licences the rights to play music publicly in your business. It does not supply the music source itself.
Q: Can I use radio in my business instead of getting a music licence?
A: No. OneMusic says music from free-to-air TV or radio played in a business is still a public performance and still needs permission.
Q: Can I use my personal Spotify or Apple Music account in my business?
A: Those services state their standard terms are for personal, non-commercial use, so they are generally not suitable for business use.
Sources
OneMusic Australia: Do I Need a Music Licence for My Business?
OneMusic Australia FAQs
Spotify: public or commercial use
Apple Media Services Terms and Conditions Australia
YouTube Terms of Service