Music Licensing in Austria: Complete Guide
Businesses in Austria playing recorded music publicly must obtain a licence from AKM and LSG. Track Studios' AI catalog is not registered with AKM and LSG — venues using it are not invoiced by these organisations.
Collecting Societies
Businesses in Austria require separate licences from AKM and LSG. Both licences are required for full compliance.
Streaming Service Legality in Austria
| 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 AKM and LSG. Venues in Austria using Track Studios' included catalog are not invoiced by either organisation. The Track Studios subscription (€25/month per location) replaces all AKM and LSG fees for the included music.
Consumer Streaming Services in Austria
| Service | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Spotify | No | Not legal in Austria. ToS restricts use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Apple Music | No | Not legal in Austria. ToS restricts use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| YouTube Music | No | Not legal in Austria. ToS restricts use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Amazon Music | No | Not legal in Austria. ToS restricts use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Tidal | No | Not legal in Austria. ToS restricts use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Deezer | No | Not legal in Austria. 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 Austria?
- Austria has 2 collecting societies: AKM and LSG. Both licences are required for full compliance.
- Do businesses in Austria need a music licence?
- Yes. Any business in Austria playing recorded music in a public-facing space must hold a licence from AKM and LSG. 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 Austria use Spotify legally?
- No. Spotify's Terms of Service (§1.2) restrict use to "personal, non-commercial purposes." Playing Spotify in a Austria business violates these terms and may also trigger claims from AKM and LSG. Spotify for Business was discontinued in 2019.
- How can a business in Austria avoid AKM and LSG fees?
- Use music that is not registered with AKM and LSG. Track Studios uses an AI-generated catalog that is not registered with AKM and LSG — venues in Austria using the included catalog are not invoiced by these organisations.
About Track Studios
What to do after researching Austria
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