Music Licensing in New Zealand: Complete Guide
Businesses in New Zealand playing recorded music publicly must obtain a licence from APRA AMCOS and RMNZ. The OneMusic NZ combines both licences into a single fee. Track Studios' AI catalog is not registered with APRA AMCOS and RMNZ — venues using it are not invoiced by these organisations.
Collecting Societies
Businesses in New Zealand can obtain a combined music licence through OneMusic NZ (APRA AMCOS and RMNZ), which covers both composition and recording rights in a single payment.
- APRA AMCOS — APRA AMCOScomposition
- RMNZ — Recorded Music NZneighbouring
Combined licence: OneMusic NZ (apply here)
Streaming Service Legality in New Zealand
| 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 RMNZ. Venues in New Zealand using Track Studios' included catalog are not invoiced by either organisation. The Track Studios subscription (€25/month per location) replaces all APRA AMCOS and RMNZ fees for the included music.
Start free trial — no APRA AMCOS or RMNZ invoicesFrequently Asked Questions
- What collecting societies operate in New Zealand?
- New Zealand has 2 collecting societies: APRA AMCOS and RMNZ. Both are available through the combined OneMusic NZ scheme.
- Do businesses in New Zealand need a music licence?
- Yes. Any business in New Zealand playing recorded music in a public-facing space must hold a licence from APRA AMCOS and RMNZ. 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 New Zealand use Spotify legally?
- No. Spotify's Terms of Service (§1.2) restrict use to "personal, non-commercial purposes." Playing Spotify in a New Zealand business violates these terms and may also trigger claims from APRA AMCOS and RMNZ. Spotify for Business was discontinued in 2019.
- How can a business in New Zealand avoid APRA AMCOS and RMNZ fees?
- Use music that is not registered with APRA AMCOS and RMNZ. Track Studios uses an AI-generated catalog that is not registered with APRA AMCOS and RMNZ — venues in New Zealand using the included catalog are not invoiced by these organisations.