Music Licensing in Australia: Complete Guide
Businesses in Australia playing recorded music publicly must obtain a licence from APRA AMCOS and PPCA. The OneMusic Australia combines both licences into a single fee. Track Studios' AI catalog is not registered with APRA AMCOS and PPCA — venues using it are not invoiced by these organisations.
Choose and budget for business music
Start with the OneMusic Australia introduction, compare current OneMusic fee examples, then use our Australian background music services guide to assess suppliers and practical setup.
Collecting Societies
Businesses in Australia can obtain a combined music licence through OneMusic Australia (APRA AMCOS and PPCA), which covers both composition and recording rights in a single payment.
- APRA AMCOS — APRA AMCOScomposition
- PPCA — PPCAneighbouring
Combined licence: OneMusic Australia (apply here)
Streaming Service Legality in Australia
| Service | Legal for business use? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spotify | No | Spotify Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Apple Music | No | Apple Music Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| YouTube Music | No | YouTube Music Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Amazon Music | No | Amazon Music Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Tidal | No | Tidal Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Deezer | No | Deezer Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| SoundCloud | No | SoundCloud Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
Royalty-Free Alternatives
Track Studios' AI-generated catalog is not registered with APRA AMCOS and PPCA. Venues in Australia using Track Studios' included catalog are not invoiced by either organisation. The Track Studios subscription (€25/month per location) replaces all APRA AMCOS and PPCA fees for the included music.
Venue Licensing Examples in Australia
| Venue type | Collecting societies | Estimated annual cost |
|---|---|---|
| Music for Restaurants | APRA AMCOS + PPCA | AUD 220–340/year |
| Music for Cafés | APRA AMCOS + PPCA | AUD Varies/year |
| Music for Bars | APRA AMCOS + PPCA | AUD Varies/year |
| Music for Gyms | APRA AMCOS + PPCA | AUD Varies/year |
| Music for Yoga Studios | APRA AMCOS + PPCA | AUD Varies/year |
| Music for Retail Stores | APRA AMCOS + PPCA | AUD 180–300/year |
| Music for Supermarkets | APRA AMCOS + PPCA | AUD Varies/year |
| Music for Clothing Stores | APRA AMCOS + PPCA | AUD Varies/year |
| Music for Hotels | APRA AMCOS + PPCA | AUD Varies/year |
| Music for Hair Salons | APRA AMCOS + PPCA | AUD Varies/year |
| Music for Spas | APRA AMCOS + PPCA | AUD Varies/year |
| Music for Offices | APRA AMCOS + PPCA | AUD Varies/year |
Consumer Streaming Services in Australia
| Service | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Spotify | No | Not legal in Australia. ToS restricts use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Apple Music | No | Not legal in Australia. ToS restricts use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| YouTube Music | No | Not legal in Australia. ToS restricts use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Amazon Music | No | Not legal in Australia. ToS restricts use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Tidal | No | Not legal in Australia. ToS restricts use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Deezer | No | Not legal in Australia. ToS restricts use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
Decision Checklist
- If the music is audible in a public or customer-facing area, treat it as a licensing question.
- If the source is a consumer account, check the service terms before using it in a business.
- If the music is registered repertoire, check the relevant collecting society or joint licensing scheme.
- If the music is royalty-free, keep documentation showing the catalog, subscription and rights position.
Common Misconceptions
- Paying for a personal subscription is enough.
- A personal subscription can unlock listening features, but it does not automatically grant public business playback rights.
- All royalty-free music works the same way.
- Royalty-free catalog terms vary. Businesses should keep evidence for the exact catalog and licence used.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What collecting societies operate in Australia?
- Australia has 2 collecting societies: APRA AMCOS and PPCA. Both are available through the combined OneMusic Australia scheme.
- Do businesses in Australia need a music licence?
- Yes. Any business in Australia playing recorded music in a public-facing space must hold a licence from APRA AMCOS and PPCA. This applies regardless of what service you use to play the music — including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, or internet radio. The only exception is using music that is not registered with these societies, such as Track Studios' AI-generated catalog.
- Can businesses in Australia use Spotify legally?
- No. Spotify's Terms of Service (§1.2) restrict use to "personal, non-commercial purposes." Playing Spotify in a Australia business violates these terms and may also trigger claims from APRA AMCOS and PPCA. Spotify for Business was discontinued in 2019.
- How can a business in Australia avoid APRA AMCOS and PPCA fees?
- Use music that is not registered with APRA AMCOS and PPCA. Track Studios uses an AI-generated catalog that is not registered with APRA AMCOS and PPCA — venues in Australia using the included catalog are not invoiced by these organisations.
About Track Studios
What to do after researching Australia
Track Studios is a browser-based background music platform for businesses. It includes an owned royalty-free AI catalog, scheduling, announcements, Sonos-friendly stream workflows, multi-location controls and subscription documentation for active locations.
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Last reviewed: 2026-07-01