Music licensing for small businesses

If you play music in your business, you most likely need permission

It’s well understood that a liquor licence is required to serve alcohol, and that local council permission is often required to display an A-frame on the footpath, but did you know that you require permission to play music at your small business?

Permission is needed to play music that is protected by copyright in a commercial setting – pubs, shops, gyms, dance schools, salons, cafes, factories and everything in between. This applies to any size of business.

By getting the correct permission – in the form of a licence – you can avoid infringing copyright law. The rights of music creators are protected in Australia by the Copyright Act (1968). By getting permission you are not only preventing the risk of legal action, but also ensuring music creators are getting compensated for their work.

“As a business that represents Australian jewellery artists, we’re passionate about helping creatives reach new audiences and make a living from their work. We use music to create a warm, welcoming environment for our clients. People come to e.g.etal to make large, often emotionally-charged purchases that will mark significant events in their lives. Music is one of the ways we create an atmosphere that helps clients feel comfortable and relaxed in our space”.

– e.g.etal owner Fiona Fitzgerald

e.g.etal jewellery on Little Collins Street in the Melbourne CBD plays music in their gallery and hold a licence through OneMusic. Photo credit: Jade Cantwell.

How to meet your music licensing obligation

OneMusic provides licences for Australian businesses to play the music typically heard on radio, TV and music-streaming services, or music bought online or in music stores. A OneMusic licence covers the majority of commercially released music, worldwide.

Their website covers the variety of licences that apply to different industries, the federal law behind the need for a licence and an ecommerce facility where busy small business owners can obtain a licence at a time that suits them.

Streaming music

While subscribing to a music streaming service or purchasing a CD allows you to play the music for personal enjoyment, it does not permit you to play it in a commercial setting. It’s still necessary to obtain permission to stream music in a commercial setting.

You can find out more through the Australian Copyright Council, their industry Association and ABLIS.

Disputes 

If you do not agree with how OneMusic applies a licence to your business, their rates or how licence fees have been calculated – you can lodge it directly with an independent third party Alternative Dispute Resolution facilitator, Resolution Pathways.