Can you use a consumer streaming app in a business?
The short answer is no. Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music, YouTube and Amazon Music are licensed for personal use. Here is the general rule, the situation platform by platform, and how to play music legally.
The rule, in one sentence
Consumer subscriptions are meant for personal, non-commercial use. As soon as music is played in a place that receives the public, it becomes apublic performance: it requires a source licensed for that use, plus the public performance royalties owed to the collecting society in your country.
In other words, plugging a personal account into your venue's speakers stacks two problems: you breach the service's terms of use, and you are not covered for public performance. Paying for a subscription, even a premium one, changes nothing.
Frequently asked questions
Can you use a consumer streaming app in a business?
No. Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music, YouTube and Amazon Music are all licensed for personal, non-commercial use. Playing them in a venue open to the public breaches their terms of use and amounts to an unlicensed public performance.
What is the best alternative to Spotify for a restaurant?
A solution licensed for commercial use, like Horra, which streams from a catalogue built for venues open to the public. Unlike consumer apps, it makes your source of music legal and offers playlists designed for the atmosphere of a place.
Does paying for a music subscription cover public performance royalties?
No. The subscription gives you a source of music. Public performance royalties are owed separately, to the collecting society in your country, whenever you play music in public. They are two distinct budget lines, and neither replaces the other.
How do you play music legally in a business?
Two things are needed: a source licensed for commercial use (not a consumer account), and the appropriate public performance licence for your country. Horra provides the first and supports you on the rest.
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