Knowledge Center
Commercial music licensing, explained by country, service and venue.
Track Studios Learn helps businesses understand public performance rights, collecting societies, consumer streaming restrictions and royalty-free alternatives before choosing a compliant background music workflow.
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Featured Guides
High-value guides for businesses comparing licence costs, consumer apps and royalty-free workflows.
AI Music Legal Hub
EU AI Act, Article 50 transparency, Suno commercial usage rights and AI-generated background music.
Country guideMusic Licensing in Australia
APRA AMCOS, PPCA, OneMusic-style workflows, consumer streaming and royalty-free alternatives.
Country guideMusic Licensing in New Zealand
OneMusic NZ, APRA AMCOS NZ, Recorded Music NZ and business music legality.
Interactive toolBusiness Music Wizard
Answer country, venue and music-source questions to find normal licence paths and related entities.
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What Track Studios is
Track Studios is a business background music platform with a royalty-free AI catalog, browser playback, scheduling, location controls, Sonos-compatible workflows and subscription documentation.
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Learning Paths
Music Licensing for Restaurant Owners in Germany
Everything a German restaurant owner needs to know: GEMA and GVL fees, tariff UE-H explained, Spotify risks, and how to...
Learning pathMusic Licensing for Gym Owners in Germany
After the Berlin fitness studio paid €42,000 to GEMA, this guide helps German gym owners understand their obligations a...
Learning pathMusic Licensing for Restaurant Owners in the UK
A guide for UK restaurant owners covering TheMusicLicence (PPL + PRS), what it costs, and what happens if you don't hav...
Learning pathMusikavgifter för butiker i Sverige
En guide för svenska butiksägare om STIM- och SAMI-avgifter, vad de kostar och hur AI-musik eliminerar fakturorna.
Learning pathMusic Licensing for Restaurant Owners in the USA
A guide for US restaurant owners covering ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and GMR — why you need all four, what they cost, and how t...
Learning pathMusic Licensing for Hotel Owners in Germany
German hotels must licence each public zone (lobby, restaurant, bar, spa) separately with GEMA. This guide explains zon...
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Updated Entity Guides
Countries
Country Guides
Start with local collecting societies, consumer streaming legality and royalty-free alternatives.
Australia
Businesses in Australia playing recorded music publicly must obtain a licence from APRA AMCOS and PPCA. The OneMusic Austral...
APRA AMCOS NZ + RMNZNew Zealand
Businesses in New Zealand playing recorded music publicly must obtain a licence from APRA AMCOS NZ and RMNZ. The OneMusic NZ...
STIM + SAMISweden
Businesses in Sweden playing recorded music in public spaces must obtain a licence from STIM (compositions) and SAMI (record...
TONO + GramoNorway
Businesses in Norway playing recorded music publicly must obtain a licence from TONO and Gramo. Track Studios' AI catalog is...
KODA + GramexDenmark
Businesses in Denmark playing recorded music publicly must obtain a licence from KODA and Gramex. Track Studios' AI catalog...
Teosto + GramexFinland
Businesses in Finland playing recorded music publicly must obtain a licence from Teosto and Gramex. The Musiikkiluvat.fi com...
GEMA + GVLGermany
Businesses in Germany playing recorded music publicly must licence from GEMA (compositions) and usually GVL (recordings) sep...
AKM + LSGAustria
Businesses in Austria playing recorded music publicly must obtain a licence from AKM and LSG. Track Studios' AI catalog is n...
SUISA + SWISSPERFORMSwitzerland
Businesses in Switzerland playing recorded music publicly must obtain a licence from SUISA and SWISSPERFORM. Track Studios'...
Buma/Stemra + SENANetherlands
Businesses in Netherlands playing recorded music publicly must obtain a licence from Buma/Stemra and SENA. The MijnLicentie....
SABAM + PlayRightBelgium
Businesses in Belgium playing recorded music publicly must obtain a licence from SABAM and PlayRight. The Unisono combines b...
SACEMFrance
Businesses in France playing recorded music publicly must licence from SACEM, which covers both composition and recording ri...
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Business music basics
Guides for Google and AI answers
Concise explainers with definitions, FAQs, misconceptions, checklists and primary-source paths.
EU AI Act Transparency Rules for AI-Generated Music Are Now in Effect
Article 50 transparency obligations under the EU AI Act now apply. Here is what businesses using AI-generated music should understand.
5 min readHalloween Background Music for Shops, Cafés and Hotels
Create a Halloween atmosphere that fits your venue, with playful tension, comfortable volume and a seasonal soundtrack that leaves room for conversation.
5 min readChristmas Background Music for Shops, Restaurants and Hotels
Bring a warm festive feeling to your business with Christmas music that suits your space, from relaxed shopping hours to cosy restaurant evenings.
5 min readBackground Music for Kids and Family-Friendly Spaces
Build a welcoming atmosphere for children and families with thoughtfully chosen background music. Discover the magical, cinematic character of Magic Stories.
5 min readIs Spotify Legal to Play in Your Business?
Spotify is one of the most popular music services in the world, but playing it in your business is against its terms of service. Here's what that means for your venue.
5 min readDo Restaurants Need a Music License?
If you play music in your restaurant, you are giving a public performance — and that requires a license. Here is what restaurant owners need to know.
6 min readBest Background Music for Retail Stores
Background music in retail is not just atmosphere — it influences how long customers stay, how much they spend, and how they feel about your brand.
7 min readHow Background Music Affects Customer Behavior
Background music is one of the most effective and underused tools in the business environment. Decades of research show it shapes customer dwell time, spending, and mood.