Can you use Spotify to play music in your business?
If you want to mix business music and personal streaming, here's what you need to know.
No, you can't use Spotify to play music in your business, and the same applies to Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Deezer and all other personal streaming apps. These services are licensed only for private, noncommercial use, so they can't be played in shops, restaurants, gyms, salons, cafés, offices or any other customer-facing space.
To play music in your shared space, you need to use a business-oriented music service. Using a personal account may seem harmless, but it can lead to copyright issues, compliance problems and unexpected — sometimes quite serious — fines.
This article explains why personal apps aren't permitted, what the law requires and which business-approved streaming platforms you can use instead to create the right atmosphere for your customers.
Why can't you use Spotify to play music in your business?
Spotify's User Agreement is crystal clear: the platform is for personal, non-commercial use. It's perfect for listening at home, in your car or through headphones, but not in places where customers or visitors can hear it as part of your business.
The same applies to all consumer streaming apps, including Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music and Deezer. All of their terms prohibit business use, which means that you'll need to find a business music streaming service for your store, restaurant, gym, salon or office.
Consumer streaming platforms do not offer the necessary music licensing for shared or commercial spaces. While playing Spotify in your business isn't a criminal offense, it explicitly goes against the company's terms that customers agree to (remember the ones you didn't bother reading when you signed up?). Using a consumer streaming service isn't worth the risk.
To stay protected and ensure artists are paid fairly, businesses need a music platform that's licensed specifically for commercial use.
Enter Soundtrack. The company introduced the world's first global direct-licensing model that allows businesses to play music commercially. It's a leading business-licensed music platform, offering more than 125 million songs and 2,000 curated playlists, along with professional tools designed for commercial spaces.
How does business music licensing work in different countries?
Every song on a platform like Spotify is owned by the artists, composers and rights holders who created it, and they deserve to be compensated when their work is listened to. For music played legally in a business setting, this is where performing rights organizations (PROs) and collecting societies come in. Their role is to ensure that creators are paid whenever their music is played in public.
Although the details vary by country, the principle is the same everywhere: playing music in a public place for anything beyond your own personal enjoyment almost always requires the appropriate music license. For example:
United States: Businesses typically need licenses from PROs such as ASCAP or BMI, which together represent millions of works.
United Kingdom: Two British PROs (PPL and PRS for Music) work together to offer TheMusicLicence, which is a single license that covers music protected by both organizations.
European Union: Each country has its own collecting societies, such as BumaStemra in the Netherlands, GEMA in Germany and Sacem in France. These organizations oversee licensing, conduct audits and ensure compliance.
In the rest of the world: Local PROs or government-authorized agencies play a similar role, but the requirement remains the same.
What penalties or fines could you face?
There's no single, fixed penalty for this infringement. Fines can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, euros, pounds or other currency. Some European collecting societies report penalties reaching into the five-figure range for repeated or intentional violations.
The consequences vary depending on factors such as:
Where your business is located
The type and size of your venue
How long unlicensed music has been played
Which rights organization steps in
Can your business be audited?
Yes, enforcement bodies and collecting societies do sometimes audit businesses to check for proper licensing. When the playing of unlicensed music use is discovered, companies may receive warning letters, be asked to provide proof of licensing or even be required to pay retroactive royalties that cover months or possibly years of music use.
What is the best alternative for business music streaming?
Soundtrack is a global music platform that lets you play commercially-licensed music in your business. With more than 15,000 licensing deals across labels, publishers and performing rights organizations, it ensures that artists are compensated and your business stays compliant.
But beyond that, Soundtrack is also built to manage music smoothly across any space. For instance, intuitive features include:
Remote control from any device
Scheduling and dayparting for automatic music changes throughout the day
Multi-location management for franchises or stores with multiple sites
Explicit lyric filtering to keep your music family-friendly
A massive music catalog that helps you fine-tune your business's sound
Five steps to stay compliant when playing music in your business
Now that you know why Spotify can't be used in your business, here are five simple steps to help you stay compliant when turning up the music in your commercial space:
Check your country's licensing requirements with your national performing rights organizations (PROs).
Subscribe to a suitable music provider such as Soundtrack.
Educate your team so staff understand that personal Spotify or Apple Music accounts can't be used at work.
Review your music use regularly to stay compliant, as rules, locations and business needs evolve.
Keep proof of your music license in case of an inspection or audit.
This approach protects your brand, keeps you legally covered and ensures artists are accurately compensated for their work — a true win-win.
The bottom line: Use only music licensed for business
Music can transform the atmosphere of your business — but not every platform is designed for business use. Consumer streaming services may be convenient, but they're licensed only for personal listening and don't cover playing music in a business setting.
While using them in your business isn't a criminal offense, it does breach their terms and can still lead to copyright or compliance issues.
For a simple, compliant and reliable solution, a business-licensed music service is the way to go. Soundtrack provides a massive music catalog, intuitive tools and dependable coverage, helping you create the right vibe for your customers while ensuring artists are properly compensated.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my Spotify Premium account in my business?
No. Spotify Premium is for personal use only. Business use is not allowed under Spotify's terms.
What happens if I use Spotify in my restaurant?
Spotify's terms don't give you permission to use their service in a business setting. Performing rights organizations (PROs) may contact you to demand you obtain the proper licenses, which may incur extra fees.
Can I play music from YouTube or YouTube Music in my business?
No. YouTube and YouTube Music are consumer platforms licensed only for personal use.
What licenses do I need to play music in my business?
It depends on your country, but typically you need public performance licenses through local PROs or a business-licensed streaming service that handles that for you.
Is it enough to buy the tracks or albums I want to play?
No. Owning music, whether through a digital purchase, a physical CD or vinyl, doesn't give you the right to play it publicly in your business.
Do I still need a license if my business is very small?
Yes. While the exact licensing requirements differ across countries and business types, the size of your business doesn't mean you can ignore the rules. If customers, clients or visitors can hear the music, it's considered a public performance and must be licensed for commercial use.
Is there an alternative music platform that I can use for business?
Yes. Soundtrack is a leading business-licensed music platform offering more than 125 million songs and 2,000 curated playlists, plus professional tools designed specifically for commercial spaces.
