Music for Hotel Lobbies
Hotel Lobbies playing recorded music publicly require a music licence from the relevant collecting society in their country. BPM recommendations vary by period: Morning (06:00–11:00): 80–100 BPM; Midday (11:00–17:00): 75–95 BPM; Evening (17:00–23:00): 70–90 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morning (06:00–11:00) | 80–100 BPM | Acoustic Pop, Jazz, Bossa Nova | — |
| Midday (11:00–17:00) | 75–95 BPM | Contemporary Jazz, World Music, Instrumental | — |
| Evening (17:00–23:00) | 70–90 BPM | Lounge, Nu-Jazz, Chillout, Ambient Pop | — |
Music Licensing for Hotel Lobbies 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 Hotel Lobbies
Track Studios provides business music that is not registered with any collecting society. Hotel Lobbies using the included catalog are not invoiced by STIM, GEMA, PRS, ASCAP, or other PROs.
Start free trialFrequently Asked Questions
- Do hotel lobbies need a music licence?
- Yes. In most countries, playing recorded music in a hotel lobby 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 hotel lobbies using it are not invoiced for the included music.
- Can hotel lobbies use Spotify legally?
- No. Spotify's Terms of Service (§1.2) restrict use to "personal, non-commercial purposes." Using Spotify in a hotel lobby 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 hotel lobbies?
- BPM recommendations vary by time period. During morning (06:00–11:00), 80–100 BPM is recommended (genres: Acoustic Pop, Jazz). During midday (11:00–17:00), 75–95 BPM is recommended (genres: Contemporary Jazz, World Music). During evening (17:00–23:00), 70–90 BPM is recommended (genres: Lounge, Nu-Jazz).
- How can hotel lobbies 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. Hotel Lobbies using the included catalog are not invoiced by these organisations.
- What happens if a hotel lobby 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.