Music is part of a workout: it sets the pace, masks fatigue and gives a room energy. Yet a private streaming subscription does not grant a Polish gym the right to play commercial recordings publicly. That distinction can turn an apparently free playlist into a licensing bill.
Why does a gym pay ZAiKS?
Playing music for customers is public performance under Polish copyright rules. For mainstream recordings, rights are generally administered in separate layers by ZAiKS (authors and composers), STOART (performers) and ZPAV (record producers). A gym may therefore need several agreements even if it already pays for Spotify, YouTube or another consumer service.
The size of the venue and the way music is used can affect tariffs. A small neighbourhood gym is not automatically exempt merely because it has few members.
What music works during training?
Tempo should match the activity rather than stay at maximum intensity all day.
