Salon music licensing is one of the most commonly misunderstood compliance areas in the beauty industry. Many salon owners are unaware that playing music in their business — through any medium, including a personal Spotify subscription, a commercial radio, or a television — may require a separate commercial license. This is not a technicality. Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) actively enforce commercial music licensing requirements, and violations can result in significant financial consequences. This guide provides a clear, practical explanation of what salon music licensing requires and how to stay compliant.
Understanding why music licensing is required for commercial use helps clarify why a personal streaming subscription is not sufficient for your salon.
Copyright law and public performance rights. Musical compositions and sound recordings are protected by copyright law in virtually every country. Copyright holders — including songwriters, music publishers, and record labels — hold the exclusive right to control how their works are performed publicly. Playing music in your salon is considered a "public performance" under copyright law, even if your salon is not open to the general public in the way that a concert venue is.
The distinction between personal and commercial use. When you subscribe to a personal streaming service such as Spotify, Apple Music, or Amazon Music, your subscription covers personal, non-commercial listening. The terms of service for personal accounts explicitly prohibit use in commercial settings. This is not merely a contractual technicality — it reflects the underlying copyright structure, which requires separate licensing for public performance rights.
Performing Rights Organizations. PROs are organizations that manage public performance rights on behalf of songwriters and music publishers. In the United States, the three major PROs are ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.), and SESAC. In the UK, PRS for Music administers performance rights. In Canada, SOCAN. In Australia, APRA AMCOS. These organizations offer blanket licenses that allow businesses to perform any music in their catalog, eliminating the need to secure individual licenses for each song.
The coverage gap: master recording rights. One complexity in the US music licensing landscape is the distinction between composition rights (managed by PROs) and master recording rights (managed by SoundExchange and record labels). Most PRO licenses cover composition rights but not master recording rights. This distinction is relevant mainly for digital streaming — if you are playing recordings digitally (through internet radio, for example), you may need both a PRO license and a master recording license.
Not all music sources create the same licensing obligations. Understanding the compliance status of different music sources helps you make informed decisions for your salon.
Personal streaming subscriptions. Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal, and similar services explicitly prohibit commercial use in their personal subscription terms. Using these in your salon without a commercial license exposes you to potential infringement claims.
Terrestrial radio. Playing AM/FM radio through a regular radio receiver in your salon is generally covered by a statutory blanket license that radio stations have already paid. However, this exemption applies specifically to radio reception and does not extend to streaming versions of radio stations. Check your specific jurisdiction's rules, as the exemptions vary.
Television. Cable and satellite television in commercial settings typically requires a separate commercial premises license from your cable or satellite provider. Your residential TV package is not licensed for commercial use. Contact your provider for commercial licensing options.
Commercial music streaming services. Several services are specifically designed and licensed for commercial use in businesses, including salons. These include Soundtrack Your Brand, Mood Media, Cloud Cover Music (now part of Soundtrack Your Brand), and similar services. These services obtain the necessary licenses as part of their business model, and your subscription covers your salon's public performance rights. These services are the most straightforward compliance solution for most salons.
Physical media (CDs, vinyl). Playing physical recordings from CDs or vinyl records in your salon still constitutes a public performance and requires a PRO license, even though you own the physical media. Purchasing a CD grants you the right to personal listening, not public performance rights.
Music you have purchased digitally (iTunes, Amazon downloads). Similarly, digital purchases grant personal listening rights, not public performance rights. These purchases do not provide a license for commercial use.
In the US, the licensing landscape requires engaging with multiple PROs to ensure comprehensive coverage, because no single US PRO manages rights for all songwriters and publishers.
ASCAP licensing. ASCAP (ascap.com) offers blanket licenses for businesses through their "Music License for Business" program. Annual fees vary based on the number of speakers, the size of your establishment, and whether music is played live or recorded. The ASCAP license covers the performance rights for compositions in their catalog, which represents a significant portion of popular music.
BMI licensing. BMI (bmi.com) administers rights for a different set of songwriters and publishers, and offers a "Music for Business" license for commercial establishments. Like ASCAP, annual fees depend on your establishment size and how music is used.
SESAC licensing. SESAC (sesac.com) is a smaller PRO with a different artist roster. For most salons, ASCAP and BMI coverage is the primary concern, but SESAC coverage provides more complete protection.
In practice: using a commercial music service. Because navigating PRO licensing individually can be administratively complex, most salon owners find that subscribing to a commercial business music service — which handles licensing on your behalf — is the most practical approach. Services like Soundtrack Your Brand and Mood Media build the licensing cost into their subscription fee and provide you with a licensed music experience without requiring you to manage individual PRO agreements.
The National Federation of Independent Business provides guidance for small business owners on music licensing compliance and frequently updates information as the regulatory landscape evolves.
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Try it free →Music licensing requirements exist in virtually all countries with developed copyright frameworks. While this guide focuses primarily on the US, international salon owners should understand the equivalent requirements in their jurisdiction.
United Kingdom. In the UK, you need licenses from two organizations: PRS for Music (prsformusic.com), which administers composition rights, and PPL (ppluk.com), which administers master recording rights. PPL and PRS have partnered to offer a joint license called TheMusicLicence, which simplifies the process for most businesses. This license covers playing music from any source — radio, television, CDs, or digital — in your salon.
Canada. In Canada, SOCAN (socan.com) administers performance rights for compositions. Re:Sound (re-sound.ca) administers performance rights for recordings. Both may be required for comprehensive coverage.
Australia. APRA AMCOS (apraamcos.com.au) manages performance rights for both compositions and recordings in Australia. One Licence is their combined offering for most business types.
European Union. EU member states each have their own collecting society (such as GEMA in Germany, SACEM in France, SIAE in Italy), and a music license is required for commercial use. Contact the relevant collecting society for your country.
Practical advice for international salons. Using a commercial business music streaming service licensed for your specific country is the easiest compliance path regardless of your location. These services typically handle licensing for the markets they operate in, giving you a clean compliance solution.
Beyond the legal framework, choosing and implementing your salon's music program thoughtfully can enhance the client experience and contribute meaningfully to your brand identity.
Aligning music to your brand. Your salon's music is part of your brand experience. A high-end luxury salon might choose sophisticated jazz or curated indie acoustic music. A vibrant, energy-focused salon might prefer upbeat pop. A wellness-focused salon might choose ambient or spa-style music. Think about the mood you want to create and how music supports it.
Volume and environment. Music played at appropriate volumes enhances the salon environment without making conversation difficult. A common error is setting background music too loud, which increases noise stress for both clients and staff. Background music should be audible but not competing with normal conversation.
Seasonal and event-based programming. Some commercial music services allow you to create playlists or select programming genres. Planning seasonal music programs — or themed playlists for holidays and promotions — can make your salon's music program feel intentional and curated rather than accidental.
Staff preferences and morale. Your staff spends more time in your salon environment than any client. Music that motivates and energizes your team contributes to a positive work culture. Consider involving staff in playlist curation within appropriate boundaries — a collaborative approach builds investment in the overall salon environment.
No. Premium personal subscriptions to Spotify, Apple Music, and similar services do not include commercial use licenses. The terms of service for these platforms explicitly restrict use to personal, non-commercial listening. Using them in a commercial setting — even with a premium subscription — violates the terms of service and creates potential copyright infringement exposure. The distinction between personal premium and commercial licensing is fundamental to how the music industry structures public performance rights. To legally play music in your salon, you need either a direct license from the relevant Performing Rights Organizations or a subscription to a commercial business music service that has already obtained the appropriate licenses.
Costs vary based on your salon's size, number of speakers, and the licensing approach you choose. In the US, ASCAP and BMI each charge annual fees that are calculated based on a formula that considers your establishment size. For a typical salon, annual fees might range from approximately $200 to $500 per year for each PRO. Commercial business music services, which bundle licensing into a subscription, typically charge between $15 and $50 per month depending on features and the markets they cover. Many salon owners find the commercial service subscription more economical and simpler than managing multiple PRO licenses independently, particularly when the administrative simplicity and the quality of the curated music experience are factored in.
Do not ignore the contact. PROs employ field representatives who visit businesses to check compliance, and they use technology to detect unlicensed commercial use of streaming services. If you receive a notice or visit from a PRO representative, contact them promptly and engage constructively. If you were operating without the appropriate licenses, the representative will typically offer you the opportunity to sign a licensing agreement. Continuing to operate without a license after being notified creates greater legal exposure. If you are uncertain about your rights or obligations, a brief consultation with a business attorney familiar with intellectual property may be worthwhile before responding.
Music licensing compliance is one of the simplest compliance requirements to resolve — the main barrier is awareness, not complexity. Choose a reputable commercial business music service licensed for your market, subscribe, and your music compliance is handled. Cancel any personal streaming service accounts you have been using in your salon context.
As you review your salon's compliance posture, consider all the areas where you need organized documentation — music licenses, hygiene records, chemical inventories, and staff training. MmowW Shampoo's compliance management platform helps salon owners maintain organized records across all compliance domains.
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