Is Amazon Music allowed in a shop?
Amazon Music is often already there, bundled with a Prime subscription, which makes it tempting to use in a shop. But its licence is for personal use only. Here is why playing it in a business is not allowed, and what to use instead.
The short answer
No, Amazon Music is not licensed to soundtrack a shop or any other venue open to the public. Whether through Prime or Amazon Music Unlimited, the use is reserved for a personal, non-commercial setting.
What the terms of use say
Amazon Music’s terms reserve the service for personal, non-commercial use. A shop, a salon, a restaurant are commercial spaces: playing Amazon Music there goes beyond what is allowed, exactly as with Spotify, Deezer or Apple Music.
The “it’s included with Prime” trap
This is the most common mix-up. Because Amazon Music comes bundled with Prime, it feels like an all-purpose service you have already paid for. But Prime is a personal subscription. What it includes is individual use, not a right to public performance. Moving up to Amazon Music Unlimited does not change the scope of the licence either.
The two risks you take
- Breaching Amazon’s terms, which can lead to your account being suspended.
- Copyright infringement. Playing music publicly without the right licence is an infringement of copyright, exposing you to claims and damages.
Where public performance royalties fit in
Public performance royalties stay due whenever you play music in public, even from a legal source. Using Amazon Music in a shop therefore combines both problems.
The right solution
You need a source licensed for commercial use. Horra streams from its own catalogue, built for venues open to the public, with curated playlists, human support, and clear, public pricing.
To compare all the platforms, check our streaming for business page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Amazon Music allowed in a shop?
No. Amazon Music's terms of use reserve the service for personal, non-commercial use. Playing it in a shop open to the public falls outside that scope and amounts to an unlicensed public performance.
Amazon Music is included in my Prime subscription, can I use it in my shop?
No. The fact that the music is bundled with Prime changes nothing: the licence stays personal. Prime is an individual subscription, and it grants no right to public performance in a business.
Does Amazon Music Unlimited change anything?
No. Unlimited expands the catalogue and audio quality, but the use stays personal and non-commercial. No consumer Amazon Music plan allows playback in a venue open to the public.
What do you risk by playing Amazon Music in a shop?
Breaching Amazon's terms of use, and copyright infringement, which exposes you to claims and damages. On top of that, you still owe public performance royalties.
What should you use instead of Amazon Music in a business?
A source licensed for commercial use, like Horra, which streams from a catalogue built for venues open to the public. It does not replace the public performance royalties you owe, but it makes your source of music legal.
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