Music Licensing for Hair and Beauty
A hair salon, a barber shop or a beauty business playing music is likely to need a music licence.
Why do hair stylists, barbers and beauty therapists need a licence?
If you are playing music, it is highly likely you need a music licence. Permission to play music protected by copyright is a legal requirement in a business/commercial setting.
You can get permission by purchasing a blanket licence from OneMusic, giving you legal access to the majority of popular music worldwide.
Alternatively, you can:
- Ask the music creators for permission for each piece of music you play and pay them directly, one by one- a time consuming and nearly impossible task.
- Only play royalty-free music. It's often difficult to determine what music really is royalty free. It's not the safest option, and it's very limiting with what music you can play.
Doesn't my music streaming service cover music in my salon?
Subscribing to a music streaming service, paid subscription or free is not the same as having a music licence. Background music suppliers simply provide the music, but not the licence to play to the public. The streaming services most of us use every day is for our personal use. Take Spotify, for example, this is clearly stated in their Terms and Conditions:
Your rights to use the Spotify Service
Access to the Spotify Services
"Subject to your compliance with these Terms (including any other applicable terms and conditions), we grant to you limited, non-exclusive, revocable permission to make personal, non-commercial use of the Spotify Service and the Content (collectively, "Access"). This Access shall remain in effect unless and until terminated by you or Spotify. You agree that you will not redistribute or transfer the Spotify Service or the Content."
Play it public and you need to pay a licence fee or get permission another way. The basic rule is if you are playing music to the public (e.g. to your clients and staff), music creators need to be paid public performance royalties - music licence fees.
You have the right to play the majority of popular and well-recognised music from around the world when you have a OneMusic licence.
Music has value in hair and beauty – it entertains your clients, sparks conversation and makes them feel at ease in your business. It contributes to your business brand and can influence the behaviour of your customers. The music creators require payment in exchange for their music being used commercially.
What are royalties?
The money from music licence fees goes to music creators. These are called royalties. OneMusic keeps track of the music being played in a huge database drawn from radio and television stations, performance reports, streaming services, music recognition technology like Audoo and data from background music suppliers.
What does a music licence cost?
Background music for retail spaces is based on both the size of your business where music can be heard and what device you're using to play the music.
What happens if I don't take out a licence?
Being without a licence is an infringement of copyright and can end in Court. Playing music for commercial use without permission can constitute an infringement of copyright which, if not rectified, may lead to legal action. A court proceeding may result in your business having to not only pay the licence fees due but other Damages and legal costs on top of that.
How do I know you're not a scam?
You can easily check if OneMusic is a scam. We understand that people need to be alert to online scams and do their research. Government websites can confirm our legitimacy:
- Australian Business Licence and Information Service (ABLIS)
- Australian Copyright Council
- ACCC website Scamwatch
- Service NSW
- Business Launchpad (QLD)
- Business Victoria
- Business Tasmania
- Small Business WA
Our Hair & Beauty community
OneMusic Partner Natalie Anne styles a client's hair.
I am proudly partnered with OneMusic Australia. Music is what sets the tone and atmosphere for every customer that walks through our doors. All Musicians are creatives just like us and most of them are hard working small businesses.
OneMusic is a proud partner of:
- 2023 Australian Hair Fashion Awards (AHFAs)
- Natalie Anne Hair
- Small Business Association of Australia
- Australian Retailers Association (ARA)
- We are also an Associate Member of the Australian Hairdressing Council (AHC)
Being creatives ourselves, for our guests in the industry and just in general, we believe proper recognition for one's work is of the utmost importance, and we believe this is a great way to give them the recognition and royalties they deserve.
Barney Martin, Luxury hair salon owner and OneMusic licensee.
OneMusic licensee Barney Martin Hair outside his salon.
Hair and Beauty FAQs
Working from home – does this still require a licence?
If you operate your business from your home and play music we represent, a licence is still required. It is the same as when your business is located at a commercial address.
What if I have a mobile hair or beauty business?
Generally, we expect fixed business locations you work from will have a music licence. If you are providing your services in a client’s home and music is played there, a licence is not generally required.
What if my clients are wearing their own headphones?
A OneMusic licence covers all uses of music in your business, including when clients are enjoying your services while listening to music on their headphones.
What if I only have music in reception and not in treatment rooms?
A licence is required for all the areas of a business where music can be heard.
I only have wind chime or wood pipe music in treatment rooms, does this still require a licence?
If the music you are playing is owned by a music creator represented by the OneMusic licence, you still require our licence. We can assist in checking this for you.
How can I use music on social media, and is it covered by a OneMusic licence?
Personal/non-commercial use of music in social media videos is covered under our agreements with the social media platforms. Please refer to the music-use policy of the social platform in question for more information.
Non personal/commercial use of music in a social media or YouTube video will require direct permission from the rights holders of the songs in question. These are separate to the rights provided via a OneMusic licence. Please see our guide on synchronisation rights.
Resources
- 7 considerations when starting a hairdressing salon
- Salon music influences buying
- Case Study: Mustachery On Brunswick
Did you know?
84% of hairdressers in the UK say playing music makes the salon’s atmosphere more welcoming or exciting. 60% of UK hairdressers agree that playing music increases the likelihood of customers returning.
2 in every 3 people say that spas and hair salons benefit from music being played.
For references and further music tips, check out our resource Presto!
What hair and beauty media say about music licensing
- Spa and Clinic - Beauty & The Beat – Do You Have The Right Music Licence?
- Style Icons - Here's why your salon needs a music licence
- Businesses For Sale - Thinking about buying a beauty salon? 5 things to consider
- On Deck - How to run a successful salon business
- Cloud Cover Media - Legal music for your salon: Creating ambience
Who is OneMusic?
The performing right organisations behind OneMusic have been licensing the use of music for almost 100 years. Launched in 2019, OneMusic is a joint initiative of APRA AMCOS and PPCA. In an effort to simplify the licensing process for customers, they created one licence to cover music use by songwriters, publishers, recording artists, record labels and composers.
Video resources
Have a query? We’re here to help. Contact us:
1300 162 162