Spotify For Business: Stream Music Legally in a Commercial Space

Messages are for the conversations you’re already having about music, podcasts and audiobooks with your friends and family. It’s easy to start a chat in the app with people you know and have previously shared Spotify content with. You’ll also see suggested people to message based on things like whether you’ve previously shared Spotify content with them, joined Jams, Blends, or collaborative playlists together, or if you share a Family or Duo plan. We’re afraid it’s not possible to use Spotify in public places (such as bars, restaurants, stores, schools, etc.). You may only make personal, non-commercial, entertainment use of the content and, in signing up for an account, you have agreed and undertaken that you are using the content only in this manner. Whether you’re using Spotify for Business or another streaming service we’ve discussed, you’ll need to take a few basic steps to get set up and start the music playing.

Why should I pay for a business license to play music?

In the latter case, an electronic copy of the work is storedon the device of a particular user, but the user does not have access to it inany other way than through an application provided by the service. If you listen to your own music on a break, away from customers, this does not constitute a public performance, so you do not need to worry about using your personal Spotify playlist. If you think these playlists are something your customers would enjoy, get Spotify for Business and you can transfer your personal playlists over and play them legally, to create a great atmosphere in your establishment.

Can you play Spotify in your business?

PRO (including PPL and PRS) licences are required to ensure that artists, songwriters, composers, record labels, music publishers and rights holders are properly paid for music that is played in a business environment. Without securing these licences, businesses playing copyrighted music are doing so illegally – and when caught, will incur huge fines. Through the use of a Spotify for Business license, a store will be playing licensed music lawfully. Importing Spotify playlists into a licensed music for business environment couldn’t be easier. Using Spotify in your business will require a business license to avoid penalties and fines. Avoid the hassle and use a commercial music streaming service like Pandora CloudCover today.

  • Spotify’s website clarifies that a personal account does not allow the user to play songs in public spaces, like stores, clubs, restaurants, and bars.
  • We’re excited to continue building and refining the experience for more Spotify users around the globe in the months ahead.
  • Slower, softer music encourages people to move slower, thus making them spend more time in the store, and vice versa.
  • The consequences could potentially range from jail time to a hefty fine.
  • Attempting to use that same song in a public setting, like Spotify for retail stores or Spotify for hotels, is a violation of the terms of purchase, akin to using a rental car as a personal vehicle.

Attempting to use that same song in a public setting, like Spotify for retail stores or Spotify for hotels, is a violation of the terms of purchase, akin to using a rental car as a personal vehicle. If you have a personal Spotify account, you are familiar with the basics of using Spotify for business. Access to this type of streaming interface will help your employees too, as they manage music playlists throughout the day. Staff must be able to respond to the changing traffic and noise levels within your business. They should be able to adjust the volume or choose from a set of approved, on-brand playlists.

Can I use Spotify for music in my business? And why is the answer no?

Spotify represents about 36% of the global music streaming market, with only a few major competitors, including YouTube, SoundCloud, Pandora, SiriusXM, and Apple Music. However, all these services are primarily directed to individuals, with licenses allowing streaming music and/or video for personal use. The simple answer to this is “no.” However, understanding licensing laws and streaming music for business can help you find a solution that is just as simple. Instead, a Spotify Business account works as a commercial license subscription.

It provides an easy-to-use platform with a variety of curated playlists that suit any business environment. With straightforward pricing and no hidden fees, it’s an excellent solution for businesses of all sizes, especially those managing multiple locations. When it comes to choosing music for your business, making the right decision can impact everything—from setting the tone for your brand to enhancing customer experience and avoiding costly legal issues. While Spotify may seem like an easy option, it’s crucial to understand its limitations in commercial use.

How to Set Up and Start Using Business Music Streaming

A great commercial music service lets you set permission levels that make sense for your business music needs. You should be able to view and control what’s playing whether you’re on site, across town, or in another city. You don’t want to risk staff playing whatever they want from their personal devices or playing music that doesn’t fit your brand and customer experience. Music creators earn a living via the sale, streaming,  and performance of their music. Musicians and songwriters rely on the streaming and performance income, including when music is played for commercial use, in order to make a living and continue making music and earning a living.

spotify for public or commercial use

It also means that you’re directly supporting artists that make the music that you love. These are questions we often hear from businesses about using Spotify for business and other streaming services. As The Guardian explains, a consumer simply buys the right to play the particular song per the terms set by the copyright holder. For individual consumers, those terms are almost exclusively for the song or album to be played in a private (or, at least, a nonpublic) setting.

Statutory damages are $750 to $30,000 per any single song use – unless the copyright infringement is willful. When a copyright owner establishes that the copyright infringement was committed willfully, the court may increase the statutory damages spotify for public or commercial use award to $150,000. The statute further permits the court to award recovery of the full cost to any party and reasonable attorney’s fees to the prevailing party as part of those costs. Despite popular belief, Spotify does not offer a Spotify for Business or Spotify Pro service.

It gives users the legal coverage to stream and download internet-based music through the Spotify Business platform, and to play it to anyone within the business’s premises. When licensed music is played in a commercial space, it is played with the intention of creating an experience for customers that is conducive to the interests of the business. When a business that fails to obtain the proper license they are subject to damages pursuant to 17 U.S.C. 504. Copyright owners are entitled to recover the actual damages suffered as a result of the infringement.

The Terms of Using Licensed Music

  • That’s why, beginning this week, Messages will start rolling out to Free and Premium users aged 16 years and older in select markets on mobile devices.
  • That means playing more than one protected song without permission could mean more than one penalty fee.
  • Whether it’s just tapping along to energetic disco beats or dancing along to a country number, the kind of music you choose will determine the mood you set for your patrons.
  • We understand your desire to play music from Spotify at your business, but as laid out in our Terms and Conditions, Spotify is only for personal, non-commercial use.

The public performance clause in the copyright law includes, but is not limited to, streaming music from digital sources, playing MP3 files from a music player, CDs, music videos on TV, and music played by a DJ. Unfortunately, playing music for your customers is not as simple as loading the perfect playlist from your favorite music streaming service. Mood Media, a music for business provider, offers a legal alternative to personal streamers like Spotify. Along with fully licensed music, Mood Media delivers expertly curated playlists designed to create a professional and engaging atmosphere that enhances the customer experience.

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