What you need to know about music licensing
If you play music in your business - whether from a radio, TV, Spotify, CDs, or any other source - Australian law says you need permission from the people who wrote and recorded that music. That permission comes in the form of a licence.
Every song has two copyright owners: the songwriter (the person who wrote the words and melody) and the recording artist/label (the people who recorded the version you hear). You need permission from both.
OneMusic Australia bundles both sets of rights into a single licence. Instead of tracking down thousands of individual songwriters and record labels, you deal with one organisation and pay one fee.
Because eJukebox is a commercial background music supplier, your OneMusic licensing tier is dramatically reduced. You could save $400-$800+ per year compared to going it alone with Spotify.
Who needs a music licence?
Shops and service businesses
Fashion stores, newsagents, homewares, hairdressers, physiotherapists, motor dealers, optometrists - basically any shop or service business that plays music where customers can hear it.
Pubs, bars, hotels and casinos
If you've got a TV with sound, a speaker system, a jukebox, or even just a radio playing in your pub, bar, hotel or casino - you need a licence.
Cafes and restaurants
Playing background music in your dining area? Whether it's from a streaming service, radio, or background music supplier - you need permission.
Any business where people can hear music
The simple rule: if your customers or staff can hear music at your business, you almost certainly need a music licence. Even music on your telephone hold system or your website needs to be covered.
What is OneMusic Australia?
Every song you play in your business carries two separate copyrights, and each one is looked after by a different organisation.
APRA AMCOS
Represents the songwriters and composers, the people who wrote the words and melody. Think of it as the "sheet music" copyright.
PPCA
Represents the recording artists and record labels, the people who recorded the version you're hearing. Think of it as the "recording" copyright.
OneMusic Australia combines both into one licence, so you deal with one organisation and pay one fee instead of two.
Visit OneMusic AustraliaHow much is a music licence for a shop or salon?
If you run a shop, salon, or service business and want to play music, here's what OneMusic charges you directly. The price depends on how you play the music and how big your space is.
Gold
Most ExpensiveRequired if you use a personal streaming service like Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube Music. Unlimited devices. Includes Digital Copy/Delivery for up to 2,000 tracks.
Even with Gold, Spotify is still not legal for commercial use.
| Retail Area | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| 1 - 50 m² | $641.94 |
| 51 - 150 m² | $745.11 |
| 151 - 500 m² | $888.40 |
| 501 - 1,000 m² | $1,318.27 |
| 1,001 - 2,000 m² | $1,604.85 |
| 2,001 - 5,000 m² | $2,464.59 |
| 5,001 - 7,500 m² | $3,037.76 |
| 7,501 - 10,000 m² | $3,324.34 |
| 10,001 - 15,000 m² | $3,897.49 |
| 15,001 - 20,000 m² | $4,470.66 |
| 20,001+ m² | $6,190.14 |
Silver
eJukebox - Multiple DevicesFor businesses using a commercial background music supplier (like eJukebox), CDs, internet radio, or terrestrial radio/TV. No personal streaming. Unlimited devices.
This is the licence tier you get with eJukebox if your venue plays through more than one device.
| Retail Area | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| 1 - 50 m² | $183.41 |
| 51 - 150 m² | $286.57 |
| 151 - 500 m² | $429.87 |
| 501 - 1,000 m² | $859.74 |
| 1,001 - 2,000 m² | $1,146.32 |
| 2,001 - 5,000 m² | $2,006.06 |
| 5,001 - 7,500 m² | $2,579.22 |
| 7,501 - 10,000 m² | $2,865.81 |
| 10,001 - 15,000 m² | $3,438.96 |
| 15,001 - 20,000 m² | $4,012.13 |
| 20,001+ m² | $5,731.60 |
Silver Lite
eJukebox - Single DeviceSame as Silver but limited to a single device. Perfect for small businesses with just one speaker or player.
This is the licence tier you get with eJukebox if your venue plays through a single device.
| Retail Area | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| 1 - 50 m² | $171.94 |
| 51 - 150 m² | $234.99 |
| 151 - 500 m² | $286.57 |
| 501 - 1,000 m² | $573.16 |
| 1,001 - 2,000 m² | $745.11 |
| 2,001 - 5,000 m² | $1,089.01 |
| 5,001+ m² | $1,432.89 |
Bronze
Radio / TV OnlyOnly covers music from free-to-air radio or TV. That's it - if you're only playing Triple J through a radio, this is all you need.
| Retail Area | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| 1 - 50 m² | $100.07 |
| 51 - 150 m² | $105.96 |
| 151 - 500 m² | $111.85 |
| 501 - 1,000 m² | $158.96 |
| 1,001 - 2,000 m² | $235.48 |
| 2,001 - 5,000 m² | $441.54 |
| 5,001+ m² | $588.72 |
Which tier does a shop pay with eJukebox?
If you use a commercial background music supplier like eJukebox, you qualify for the cheaper Silver tier - or Silver Lite if you play through a single device - instead of the expensive Gold package. If you use Spotify or similar personal streaming, you're stuck with Gold - and you're still breaking Spotify's rules. What to look for in a background music provider →
How much is a music licence for a pub, bar or hotel?
Hospitality licensing is more complex because venues use music in more ways - TVs, jukeboxes, dining areas, live bands, DJs, and more. OneMusic uses a tiered "package" system based on how many TVs and music systems you have.
Background music packages
OneMusic calls this "Background Music for Location": background music in general areas, including attached bottle shops. Not for DJs, live bands, featured music events, or separate dining areas.
| Package | What You Get | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Sapphire | 10+ TV screens, unlimited radios, music systems & music video screens | $3,944.48 |
| Diamond | 7-9 TV screens, unlimited radios, music systems & music video screens | $2,472.66 |
| Platinum | 2-6 TV screens, unlimited radios, music systems & music video screens | $1,412.95 |
| Gold | 1 TV screen, unlimited radios, 1 music system | $618.16 |
| Silver | 1 TV screen, unlimited radios (no music systems) | $235.48 |
| Bronze | 1 TV screen, 1 radio only | $153.07 |
All packages include Workplace Music (excluding branch/head office staff) and Telephone on Hold for up to 2 lines (Gold and above).
Extra fees for dining areas, DJs and live music
The background music packages above are just the starting point. Depending on how your venue uses music, you may also need the following on top:
| Add-On | When You Need It | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Copy / Delivery | Using a personal streaming service (Spotify, Apple Music etc.) or downloading music digitally | +$470.98/yr |
| NOT required if you use a commercial background music supplier like eJukebox | ||
| Website Use | Background music on your business website | +$647.60/yr |
| Dining Area | Separate music zone in your dining area (7+ seats) | $249 - $1,994/yr |
| Featured Recorded Music | DJ nights, karaoke, retro nights, jazz nights | $0.29/person/day |
| Live Music | Live bands and solo performers | 2.2% of performer fees |
| Recorded Music for Dance | Nightclub-style dance areas | $2.11/person/day |
All prices as at September 2025. Prices increase by CPI annually on 1 September each year.
Do I need a licence to play Spotify at work?
Yes, you need a OneMusic licence, but a licence doesn't make a personal Spotify account usable at work. Spotify's own terms allow personal, non-commercial use only, and streaming puts you on OneMusic's most expensive tier.
Spotify's terms rule out business use
Spotify's own terms and conditions explicitly forbid using a personal subscription for commercial or public use. Even if you pay for a OneMusic licence separately, Spotify still hasn't given you permission to use their service commercially. A OneMusic licence covers the music rights, but it cannot override Spotify's terms of service. You're breaching your contract with Spotify.
Streaming puts you on the most expensive tier
Because Spotify is a "personal digital music service" (not a commercial music supplier), OneMusic requires you to take their most expensive package. For retail, that's the Gold package. For hospitality, you also need the Digital Copy/Delivery add-on (+$471/yr). A commercial background music supplier like eJukebox puts you on a cheaper tier.
A OneMusic licence doesn't override Spotify's terms
Even with a OneMusic licence, playing Spotify commercially is technically in breach of Spotify's terms. OneMusic's own documentation states:
"Even with our licence, the use of digital music (streaming) services by you in your business may be in breach of the terms and conditions of your end user agreement with that service."
You're paying more for a setup that still isn't properly legal.
Spotify vs eJukebox: what a salon, shop or pub pays
Let's compare what you'd actually pay going the Spotify route versus using eJukebox. These are based on real OneMusic rates from their official 2025-2026 pricing guides.
Small hair salon
38 m² retail area
| Spotify Premium subscription | $168/yr |
| OneMusic Gold (1-50 m², required for personal streaming) | $642/yr |
| Total per year | $810/yr |
| Per month | $67.50/mo |
| eJukebox Solo (Silver licence tier), ex GST | from $588/yr |
| OneMusic Silver (1-50 m²) - paid separately | from $183/yr |
| Total per year | from $771/yr |
| Per month | from $64.25/mo |
Fashion or homewares shop
100 m² retail area
| Spotify Premium subscription | $168/yr |
| OneMusic Gold (51-150 m²) | $745/yr |
| Total per year | $913/yr |
| Per month | $76/mo |
| eJukebox Solo (Silver licence tier), ex GST | from $588/yr |
| OneMusic Silver (51-150 m²) - paid separately | from $287/yr |
| Total per year | from $875/yr |
| Per month | from $72.92/mo |
Small pub
3 TV screens with sound, 1 music system, using Spotify
| Spotify Premium subscription | $168/yr |
| OneMusic Platinum (2-6 TV screens) | $1,413/yr |
| Digital Copy/Delivery (required for streaming) | $471/yr |
| Total per year | $2,052/yr |
| Per month | $171/mo |
| eJukebox Full Package (from $130/mo ex GST) | from $1,560/yr |
| OneMusic Platinum (2-6 TV screens) - paid separately | $1,413/yr |
| Digital Copy/Delivery | Not needed - $0 |
| Spotify subscription | Not needed - $0 |
| Total per year | from $2,973/yr |
| Per month | from $248/mo |
What a small pub gets for the difference
Yes, the Full Package costs around $2.52 more per day than the Spotify route. But consider: you're currently paying $639/yr on Spotify fees + Digital Copy/Delivery for a setup that's still not legal under Spotify's own terms. For that $2.52/day, you upgrade from a consumer music app to a professional entertainment system built for venues:
- Customer song requests from their own phones, with no app to install - keeps punters engaged and staying longer
- AI Song Search - customers describe what they're after, like "80s Aussie pub rock", and pick from the results
- Multi-zone audio - different music for bar, dining, and gaming areas, with two zones included
- Dayparting - quieter mornings, upbeat nights, automatic scheduling
- Broadcast-quality sound - consistent volume, no sudden loud or quiet tracks
- No ads, ever - uninterrupted music all day, every day
- Voice announcements - record one on your phone and it plays between songs, never over them
- Playing Across the Country - see what venues nationwide are playing right now, and request it
- 24/7 monitoring & support - we keep it running so you don't have to
- Made for commercial use - with your OneMusic licence in place, your music is fully above board
Add any of these when the pub wants them. Each is an add-on to Core, and all of them come included in Complete:
- Photo displays - a branded slideshow of your specials and events on a TV you already have, or a Guest Photo Wall where customers send their own photos to the screen
- Voice dedications - customers record a short shout-out that plays right before their song
- Live microphone - any staff phone becomes a PA mic, and the music drops back while you talk
- Typed and scheduled announcements - type a message to be read out between songs, or set happy hour and last drinks to play themselves
- Interactive request screen - a touchscreen where customers pick songs without reaching for their phone
- Spotify integration - guests request from their own Spotify playlists, matched to your licensed library
- Functions and events mode - night-only controls for a function host, including stopping cleanly for the speeches
If just one extra customer per week stays for one more drink because they're enjoying the music and requesting songs, that extra revenue more than covers the difference.
On a tight budget? Start with Solo
You don't have to start with everything. Solo gives you one curated, ad-free, fully licensed channel for a single area with no hardware to buy - broadcast-quality music without the interaction layer. It beats Spotify on sound quality, legality and licence tier, and you can move up to Core or Complete whenever the venue is ready.
Large pub
8 TV screens with sound, multiple music systems, using Spotify
| Spotify Premium subscription | $168/yr |
| OneMusic Diamond (7-9 TV screens) | $2,473/yr |
| Digital Copy/Delivery (required for streaming) | $471/yr |
| Total per year | $3,112/yr |
| Per month | $259/mo |
| eJukebox Full Package (from $170/mo ex GST) | from $2,040/yr |
| OneMusic Diamond (7-9 TV screens) - paid separately | $2,473/yr |
| Digital Copy/Delivery | Not needed - $0 |
| Spotify subscription | Not needed - $0 |
| Total per year | from $4,513/yr |
| Per month | from $376/mo |
What a large pub gets for the difference
The Full Package costs around $3.84 more per day than the Spotify route. But remember: you're comparing an illegal, consumer-grade music app against a professional entertainment platform built for large venues. You're already wasting $639/yr on Spotify + DCD fees for a setup that shouldn't even be used commercially.
For that $3.84/day, your venue gets:
- Customer song requests - interactive entertainment that keeps punters at the bar longer
- AI Song Search - nobody needs the track name; "something for a 50th" brings back a list to request from
- Multi-zone audio - different vibes for each area of your venue, with two zones included
- Dayparting - music adapts automatically throughout the day and week
- Broadcast-quality sound - professionally mixed, consistent volume across every song
- No ads, ever - uninterrupted music, always
- Voice announcements - record a message on your phone and it plays between songs
- Playing Across the Country - a live view of what venues nationwide are playing, ready to request
- 24/7 monitoring & support - we manage it, you run your pub
- Made for commercial use - with your OneMusic licence in place, your music is fully above board
Add any of these as the venue needs them. Each is an add-on to Core, and all of them come included in Complete:
- Photo displays - turn your screens into a branded slideshow between requests, or a Guest Photo Wall of customers' own photos on big nights
- Voice dedications - an 8-second shout-out recorded by the customer, played right before their song and screened for language
- Live microphone - call raffles, trivia and last drinks from any staff phone, with the music dropping back while you talk
- Typed and scheduled announcements - messages read out between songs, or booked to play themselves every happy hour
- Interactive request screen - a wall-mounted touchscreen so customers can pick songs at the bar without a phone
- Spotify integration - guests request straight from their own Spotify playlists, matched to your licensed library
- Functions and events mode - give a function host their own controls for the night without pulling staff off the floor
A venue this size could easily recoup the difference with just 2-3 extra drinks per week from customers staying longer to enjoy the music and request their favourites.
Not ready for the full system? Start with Solo
If the full system is more than you want to take on right now, Solo still gets you broadcast-quality, ad-free, fully licensed music in one area with nothing to install - and puts you on the same commercial-supplier footing with OneMusic. Move up to Core or Complete when you're ready for song requests and multi-zone.
How eJukebox lowers your OneMusic fee
eJukebox is a commercial background music supplier
This is the key difference. Because eJukebox is a licensed commercial background music supplier (listed on backgroundmusicguide.com.au), your OneMusic requirements change in your favour:
- Retail: You qualify for the cheaper Silver tier - or Silver Lite on a single device - instead of Gold
- Hospitality: You don't need Digital Copy/Delivery ($471/yr saved) because eJukebox is a commercial supplier
- Everyone: No Spotify subscription needed ($168/yr saved)
No Digital Copy/Delivery fee
OneMusic's own guides say: "You do not need to include Digital Copy/Delivery in your licence if you are only playing music from a commercial background music supplier." That's eJukebox. That's $471 per year you don't have to pay.
A lower tier for shops and service businesses
For retail businesses, playing eJukebox instead of a personal streaming account puts you on the Silver tier - or Silver Lite if you play through a single device - both significantly cheaper than the Gold package you'd need with Spotify. That's a saving of $459 or more per year for a small shop alone. For pubs and hospitality, the same hospitality tier applies regardless of music source, but you save by not needing the Digital Copy/Delivery add-on.
No streaming subscription on top
You don't need to pay for Spotify Premium ($168/yr) on top of everything else. eJukebox replaces it entirely - and unlike Spotify, we're actually designed for commercial use.
Not sure which OneMusic tier applies?
Your OneMusic licence stays in your name, but you don't have to guess at the tier. Tell us your venue type, floor area, screens and audio zones and we'll walk you through exactly which OneMusic package applies and what changes once you're on a commercial supplier.
Common questions about music licences
What if I just play the radio?
You still need a licence, but it's the cheapest option. Retail shops pay as little as $100/yr (Bronze). For pubs, it's $153/yr (Bronze) for a single radio and TV. Using a commercial background music supplier like eJukebox is a separate, slightly higher tier, but you get much better music.
What counts as a TV screen for OneMusic licensing?
Any screen showing free-to-air or pay TV (including Fox Sports) with sound. Screens that only show racing, betting, or Keno silently don't count. A video wall counts as just one screen.
What counts as a music system?
Any device used to play music - including background music supplier systems (like eJukebox), audio jukeboxes, PCs, tablets, smartphones, CDs, or record players. If you play a radio station through an app like TuneIn, that counts as a Music System, not a radio.
My dining area plays different music - do I pay extra?
Yes, but only if your dining area has its own separate music source playing different music to the rest of the venue, and it seats at least 7 people. If the same music is heard throughout, there's no extra charge.
Do I need a licence for telephone on-hold music?
Yes, that needs a licence too. For hospitality venues with Gold package or above, up to 2 on-hold lines are included. For retail and service providers, it's a separate fee starting from $283/yr for 1-2 lines.
What about music on my business website?
If you have background music on your business website, that's an extra $648/yr with OneMusic. There are restrictions: 10-15 different tracks, no more than one per artist, and visitors can't choose tracks.
Why businesses switch from Spotify to eJukebox
By switching from Spotify to eJukebox, you avoid the expensive Gold/Digital Copy licensing tiers, you eliminate your Spotify subscription fee, and you get a service that's actually designed for business.
Unlike the Spotify route (where you're always in breach of their terms), eJukebox is a commercial music supplier designed for exactly this purpose. No grey areas, no risk.
Professionally curated channels, consistent broadcast-quality volume, dayparting, no ads, family-friendly content, and optional customer song requests. It just sounds better.
Solo starts at $49 per month ex GST for fully licensed, broadcast-quality music in a single area, with nothing to install. Core and Complete add song requests, multiple zones and the full interaction layer.
OneMusic’s official pricing guides
Don't just take our word for it. You can download the official OneMusic Australia pricing guides yourself and see exactly what you'd be paying:
All pricing on this page is sourced from the official OneMusic Australia information guides. Prices are inclusive of GST and apply for the 2025-2026 licence period. Prices are subject to annual CPI adjustments. Visit onemusic.com.au for the latest information.
Where your licence fee goes
Music licensing isn't just about ticking a legal box. Last year, the organisations behind OneMusic paid royalties across more than 1.8 million songs and to more than 89,000 local Australian songwriters and recording artists. When you play licensed music in your business, you're directly supporting the people who created the soundtrack to your customers' experience. They've earned it.
Learn More at OneMusic Australia