Is Apple Music allowed in a business?
Apple Music wins people over with its playlists and audio quality, but like other consumer platforms, it is licensed for personal use. Here is why you cannot use it to soundtrack your venue, and what to use instead.
The short answer
No, you cannot use Apple Music to play music in your business. Whatever the plan, it is licensed for personal, non-commercial use.
What the terms of use say
Apple’s terms are explicit: the Apple Services and Content are only for your personal, non-commercial use. A venue open to the public is, by nature, a commercial setting. Playing Apple Music there goes beyond what is allowed.
A polished interface is not a commercial licence
Apple Music’s editorial playlists and audio quality make it feel like a professional tool. But the quality of the service changes nothing about the scope of the licence, which stays personal. No Apple Music plan unlocks a right to public performance.
The two risks you take
- Breaching Apple’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 perfectly legal source. Using Apple Music in a business leaves you doubly exposed: an unauthorised source, and royalties left unpaid.
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.
For the full picture across platforms, check our streaming for business page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Apple Music allowed in a business?
No. Apple's terms state that Apple Services and Content are for your personal, non-commercial use only. Playing Apple Music in a space open to the public falls outside that scope and amounts to an unlicensed public performance.
Does Apple Music offer a plan for businesses?
No, not for soundtracking a venue open to the public. Apple Music subscriptions are personal. For a business, you need a solution licensed specifically for commercial use.
What do you risk by playing Apple Music in a shop?
Breaching Apple's terms of use, and copyright infringement: playing music publicly without the right licence exposes you to claims and damages. On top of that, you still owe public performance royalties.
What should you use instead of Apple 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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