Music for Boutique Hotels
Boutique Hotels playing recorded music publicly require a music licence from the relevant collecting society in their country. BPM recommendations vary by period: Public areas (day): 70–90 BPM; Bar / Lounge (evening): 88–110 BPM. Track Studios' AI catalog is not registered with any collecting society — venues using it are not billed for the included music.
BPM Recommendations
| Time Period | BPM Range | Genres | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public areas (day) | 70–90 BPM | Curated Indie, Electronic Ambient, Nu-Jazz, World | Music is a brand statement in boutique hotels. Genre and mood should reflect the hotel's visual identity and target guest profile. |
| Bar / Lounge (evening) | 88–110 BPM | Deep House, Chill Electronica, Contemporary Jazz, Downtempo | — |
Music Licensing for Boutique Hotels by Country
| Country | Collecting Societies | Estimated Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Sweden | STIM + SAMI | SEK Varies/year |
| Norway | TONO + Gramo | NOK Varies/year |
| Denmark | KODA + Gramex | DKK Varies/year |
| Finland | Teosto + Gramex | EUR Varies/year |
| Germany | GEMA + GVL | EUR Varies/year |
| Netherlands | Buma/Stemra + SENA | EUR Varies/year |
| Belgium | SABAM + PlayRight | EUR Varies/year |
| France | SACEM | EUR Varies/year |
| United Kingdom | PRS + PPL | GBP Varies/year |
| United States | ASCAP + BMI + SESAC + GMR + SoundExchange | USD Varies/year |
| Canada | SOCAN + Re:Sound | CAD Varies/year |
| Australia | APRA AMCOS + PPCA | AUD Varies/year |
Royalty-Free Music for Boutique Hotels
Track Studios provides business music that is not registered with any collecting society. Boutique Hotels using the included catalog are not invoiced by STIM, GEMA, PRS, ASCAP, or other PROs.
Start free trialFrequently Asked Questions
- Do boutique hotels need a music licence?
- Yes. In most countries, playing recorded music in a boutique hotel is a public performance that requires a licence from the relevant collecting society — for example, GEMA in Germany, TheMusicLicence (PRS + PPL) in the UK, or ASCAP and BMI in the USA. Track Studios' AI catalog is not registered with any of these societies, so boutique hotels using it are not invoiced for the included music.
- Can boutique hotels use Spotify legally?
- No. Spotify's Terms of Service (§1.2) restrict use to "personal, non-commercial purposes." Using Spotify in a boutique hotel violates these terms and may also expose the business to claims from collecting societies for the underlying music rights. Spotify for Business was discontinued in 2019.
- What is the ideal BPM for boutique hotels?
- BPM recommendations vary by time period. During public areas (day), 70–90 BPM is recommended (genres: Curated Indie, Electronic Ambient). During bar / lounge (evening), 88–110 BPM is recommended (genres: Deep House, Chill Electronica).
- How can boutique hotels avoid collecting society fees?
- Use music that is not registered with collecting societies. Track Studios uses an AI-generated catalog that is not registered with STIM, GEMA, PRS, ASCAP, BMI, or any other collecting society. Boutique Hotels using the included catalog are not invoiced by these organisations.
- What happens if a boutique hotel is caught playing music without a licence?
- The collecting society can issue a civil claim for back-fees (typically covering 2–3 years of unlicensed use), plus additional damages. In Germany, the Berlin fitness studio case resulted in €42,000 in damages. In the USA, statutory damages can reach $150,000 per infringed work.