Fitness
23 June 2026
Music creates a welcoming atmosphere, strengthens your brand and creates ambiance for customers and staff. Whether you run a café, retail store, gym, salon, office or another business, the right music influences how people feel in your space.
Many business owners use music streaming services in their personal lives and assume they can simply use those same accounts at work without permission or a licence to play it publicly.
However, there are crucial copyright considerations businesses need to understand before playing music in a commercial setting from streaming services like Amazon Music.
This guide explains the challenges with using Amazon Music to play music in your business and why, no matter where your music is sourced from, a OneMusic licence helps Australian businesses play copyright-protected music legally.
Amazon Music is a music streaming service that gives subscribers access to millions of songs, playlists, podcasts and radio stations. It is available through mobile devices, computers, smart speakers, and other devices.
The Amazon Music service intended for personal, private listening and is popular among consumers who want on-demand access to music at home, in their car or on personal devices.
Amazon Music subscriptions are intended for personal, non-commercial use.
So, while businesses may be able to easily play Amazon Music in a commercial setting, like stores, cafés, dance schools or offices, through speakers, smart devices, or connected sound systems, businesses should carefully review Amazon Music’s terms and conditions, because using Amazon Music in a commercial setting is likely to be a breach of Amazon Music’s user agreement
Also, the Amazon Music service itself does not provide the permissions required under Australian copyright law to “publicly perform” copyright-protected music.
Playing copyright-protected music in a business is generally considered a public performance under Australia’s Copyright Act.
This means that even if a business has a valid Amazon Music subscription, additional permission would likely still be required to publicly play in a commercial setting much of the music available on Amazon Music.
A public performance can occur whenever music is played in a place where customers, clients, visitors or staff can hear it. This will include:
Businesses that publicly perform copyright-protected music without an appropriate licence or other permission may be infringing copyright.
OneMusic helps businesses obtain permission to publicly perform the vast majority of the world's repertoire of copyright-protected music in Australia.
Businesses that publicly play copyright-protected music without the required licence or permission may face legal consequences.
Failing to obtain a music licence can be costly both financially and reputationally. Courts have ordered damages significantly higher than the cost of obtaining a licence.
In early January this year, several news outlets reported on a Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia decision against a gym owner operating multiple gyms in Sydney and Victoria without a valid OneMusic licence. The Court ordered the five companies running the gyms, along with the companies’ sole director, to pay $235,398 in damages and interest, excluding legal costs.
Copyright law exists to protect creators from losing income from their creative works. Obtaining the appropriate licence helps ensure artists, songwriters, performers and producers receive royalties when their music is used commercially.
Some background music suppliers offer commercial music services specifically designed for business environments. These services may provide features such as curated playlists, scheduling tools, and business-focused support.
That said, businesses should also be aware that using a commercial music supplier does not necessarily remove the need for a OneMusic licence. Depending on the service, the type of music and how music is used, a separate OneMusic licence may still be required to publicly perform copyright-protected music provided by a commercial music suppler.
Businesses should always check what permissions are included and whether additional licensing is needed.
Overview of OneMusic
OneMusic Australia provides public performance music licences for businesses across a wide range of industries.
Whether you operate a retail store, hospitality venue, fitness centre, office, healthcare practice or another commercial space, OneMusic helps businesses obtain permission to publicly perform copyright-protected music.
A OneMusic licence can cover music played through any number of sources, including:
OneMusic issues public performance music licences on behalf of APRA, AMCOS and PPCA.
Rather than having to negotiate directly with thousands of songwriters, composers, music publishers, performers and record labels, businesses can obtain a single licence that covers the vast majority of the world's commercially released music.
Although OneMusic does not physically supply music - either by streaming or via music platforms - it provides the permission businesses require to publicly perform the vast majority of copyright-protected music.
OneMusic makes music licensing simpler and helps businesses comply with Australian copyright law.
Every song available through Amazon Music represents the work of songwriters, composers, performers, producers, music publishers and record labels.
When businesses publicly play music without obtaining the appropriate licence or permission, creators may miss out on royalties they would otherwise receive for the use of their music.
Licensing helps support the music industry by ensuring creators are fairly compensated for their work. This allows artists and other rights holders to continue creating the music that businesses and customers enjoy every day.
Licence fees collected by OneMusic are distributed to APRA AMCOS and PPCA, which then distribute royalties to eligible music creators and rights holders.
Music can help create a memorable customer experience and improve the atmosphere of your business. However, before publicly performing music, whether from Amazon Music or otherwise, it is vital to ensure you have the appropriate licence or permission in place.
A OneMusic licence provides a simple way for Australian businesses to obtain permission to publicly perform the vast majority of copyright-protected music and helps ensure creators are fairly compensated for their work.
If you are publicly playing copyright-protected music from Amazon Music in a business or commercial setting, you will likely require a public performance music licence or other permission.
Personal streaming subscriptions, such as Amazon Music, do not generally provide permission for use other than in a personal and non-commercial setting.
Businesses that publicly perform any copyright-protected music without the appropriate licence or other permission – whether from Amazon Music or otherwise - may be infringing copyright.
Failing to obtain a music licence or securing permission for music use can result in a court ordering payment of significant financial damages that result in costs for a business that are far greater than the original licence fees due.
OneMusic provides music licensing solutions that help businesses obtain permission to publicly perform the vast majority of copyright-protected music.
By obtaining the appropriate licence, businesses can ensure they are compliant with Australian copyright law, while also supporting music creators and rightsholders.
Amazon Music does not provide you with permission to publicly perform copyright-protected music in a business setting.
Businesses should ensure they have the appropriate public performance music licence or other permission before playing music.
No. OneMusic does not supply, stream or broadcast physical copies of music.
OneMusic simply provides the legal permission businesses need to publicly perform copyright-protected music in non-personal environments.
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