Music licences for dining spaces

Same wine, different music = different tasting wine.*

Can I play music in my restaurant or cafe?

You can play music in your restaurant or cafe as long as you have permission from the creators of that music if that music is in copyright. You can obtain permission from them all directly or you can obtain a blanket licence for millions of songs from the catalogue of OneMusic Australia.

The Dining licence scheme is designed for our music used in restaurants, cafés, bistros – essentially any commercial enterprise preparing meals and hot drinks such as tea and coffee to be consumed onsite or off-site. Learn more about how the licence fee for this scheme was set.

This could be a counter-service fast food franchise, a full table service restaurant.

Does your dining space have 6 seats or less - sign up here instead.

OneMusic Australia is an official Gold partner of Restaurant & Catering Australia (R&CA) - who provide services, advice and education to its members. R&CA also advise on compliance issues including music licensing requirements. Visit the R&CA website for more information.

For our music used in dining spaces inside a hotel, pub, tavern, bar, casino, club, motel, resort, B&B, guest house, or fitness centre please refer to the relevant industry specific licence scheme. If your dining space is inside a retail shop or other multi-function establishment, please contact us on dining@onemusic.com.au.

* North A, The effect of background music on the taste of wine. British Psychological Society.

Download our Information guide

Get a simple & quick online quote if you need a licence for 1-5 locations:

Get a licence

If you have 6 or more locations, please complete and download your licence agreement, then contact us at getalicence@onemusic.com.au:

Download your licence agreement

Do I need a licence to play music in public places?

If you play music protected by copyright out loud in a public place for a commercial purpose such as a shop, a gym or a bar you need permission or you need to purchase a music licence. Legally this music use is different to playing music at home or in your car. This is called public performance of music.

What is the cost of a music licence for businesses?

Music licence costs depend on your business type, music devices and whether the music is protected by copyright. If you use the radio and you are a small shop the cost will be much, much smaller than if you are running a multi-purpose theatre.

How can I legally play music in my business?

Your business can legally play music protected by Copyright by getting permission first. Permission can be from OneMusic Australia in the form of a licence for millions of songs in its catalogue, from the artists themselves for every song, through a background music supplier or other means. You need permission or a licence when your stream music in your business.

What happens if I don't take out a licence?

If you want to play and enjoy the use of virtually any commercially released music from anywhere around the world, you should immediately enter into a OneMusic Australia licence, because using OneMusic Australia’s music without a OneMusic Australia licence can constitute an infringement of our copyright which, if not rectified, may ultimately lead to legal action.

Of course, we will happily talk with you about your music licensing and certainly provide a reasonable time frame for you to take out a licence before escalating the matter any further.

But, if our music continues to be used without permission, then we will be left with no option but to enforce our rights on behalf of our members and affiliates, which could involve court proceedings. Such action may result in the business having to pay the licence fees as well as other damages and legal costs.

Over 95% of businesses and organisations that we deal with are readily compliant.

How much is a music licence?

To purchase a music licence you select only the cover you need for your music devices. Music licence fees start $100 a year. Fees differ by industry, a shop pays a licence fee on its floor space, a nightclub on attendance and a café on seating capacity.

Is it the performer or the venue that needs the licence?

OneMusic does not generally licence individual or group live performers such as bands and DJ's. It is the venue or the event organiser who needs to obtain a licence for public performance.

Performers may still need permission for copying

A performer may require licensing for any reproductions they are considering such as photocopying sheet music, videoing their performance, copying CDs onto a laptop.

DJ Alliance have signed an agreement with ARIA and AMCOS to cover their physical and digital copies of music. This agreement covers their members starting from 1 July 2019.

Outside this arrangement:

OneMusic licenses performers who are part of a Community Music Group.