Spotify in a salon: is it legal? The definitive explanation
SoundYou Team
Author
Paying for music and having permission to play it to customers are two different things. A Spotify subscription gives an individual access to a catalogue; it does not automatically grant a salon a commercial public-performance licence.
What do Spotify’s terms say?
Spotify’s standard service is intended for personal, non-commercial use. Free and Premium differ in features and advertising, not in turning a consumer account into a business public-performance service. A salon, café or reception therefore needs a music source and rights designed for commercial use.
But is Spotify Premium not enough?
No. Premium removes ads and adds consumer features. In Poland, playing mainstream recordings publicly can additionally involve rights represented by ZAiKS, STOART and ZPAV. Even separate collecting-society payments do not necessarily change the consumer platform’s own contractual restriction.
What about YouTube?
Ordinary YouTube access is also not a blanket business-music licence. A video being freely accessible does not prove that its uploader owns every right or that public commercial playback is permitted.
Is radio illegal too?
The radio station can broadcast legally while a venue still needs permission for its separate public use of the signal. See Radio in a shop and ZAiKS.
Summary of popular music sources
Source
Legal for ordinary business playback?
Additional licence issue?
Spotify Free
No under the consumer terms
ZAiKS/STOART/ZPAV may also apply
Spotify Premium
No under the consumer terms
ZAiKS/STOART/ZPAV may also apply
YouTube
Not by default
rights must be verified
Radio
broadcaster is licensed
venue use may require separate rights
Apple Music / Tidal
consumer service, not by default
public-performance rights may apply
SoundYou
Yes for its licensed catalogue
public-performance licence included
What can happen if music is played unlawfully?
A platform may enforce its terms, while rights holders or Polish collecting organisations may seek payment, cessation of use or damages. Outcomes depend on the facts; rare inspections do not make the use lawful.
Is “Spotify for Business” the solution?
Do not assume a familiar brand name or third-party label grants the rights you need. Read the actual agreement: it should expressly permit public performance in your country and venue type and cover the relevant rights.
Legal salon music without separate ZAiKS fees
A directly licensed catalogue clears author, performer and producer rights at source. SoundYou supplies its own business catalogue, ad-free scheduling and a certificate for the covered venue. The licence applies only to that catalogue, not to songs played from a private account.
