The short answer
New Zealand businesses playing copyright-protected music publicly usually need permission for the relevant rights. The main workflow is OneMusic NZ, connected to APRA AMCOS NZ and Recorded Music NZ.
This article supports the canonical Music Licensing in New Zealand Learn guide and the commercial Music for Business in New Zealand guide.
What OneMusic NZ means for businesses
Music rights are not a single bucket. Musical works and sound recordings can involve different right holders and different representatives. OneMusic NZ gives many businesses a simpler route to licensing covered repertoire.
Consumer streaming is not a business plan
Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube Music are familiar, but a paid consumer subscription should not be treated as a public business playback licence. The safer question is whether the source is intended for a New Zealand business, in your venue type, with customers or staff hearing the music.
Venue examples
| Business | Typical question | Useful next page |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant or cafe | Is the music audible in dining or queue areas? | Restaurant venue guide |
| Retail store | Is music part of the customer experience? | Music for retail stores |
| Gym | Is music played in public workout areas or classes? | Music for gyms |
| Hotel | Which guest zones use music? | Music for hotels |
When royalty-free music makes sense
Royalty-free music can simplify the licensing workflow when the catalog is documented and outside the collecting-society repertoire. Track Studios' included catalog is owned by Track Studios and is not registered with APRA AMCOS NZ or Recorded Music NZ. That statement applies to the included Track Studios catalog, not to uploaded third-party music or customer audio.
Use the wizard
Open the Business Music Wizard, select New Zealand, choose your venue type and current music source, then review the recommended Learn pages, commercial guide and collecting societies.