No matter where your music comes from, if you play music protected by copyright in your Pilates business, you will likely need permission or a ‘public performance’ music licence.
Public performance? But I’m not the one performing!
‘Public performance’ of music describes the act of a business (such as a Pilates practice, a shop, a fitness studio or a bar etc) playing music protected by copyright for a commercial purpose, whether that is background recorded music, live music or a DJ etc.
Many Australian businesses are unaware that almost all commercially-available music is protected by copyright. Under the Copyright Act (1968), you must obtain permission to play music protected by copyright in any business setting, including a Pilates practice.
What is music licensing?
OneMusic issues ‘public performance’ licences on behalf of APRA AMCOS and PPCA. Licence fees collected by OneMusic are passed to these organisations, who allocate royalties to their members and licensors.
APRA AMCOS represents composers, songwriters and publishers, and PPCA represents recording artists and record labels.
A licence is needed regardless of how the music is played
Using personal streaming services, radio, TV, YouTube, or other sources in a commercial setting may breach providers’ Terms and Conditions. Regardless of the source, playing music protected by copyright in your Pilates business will likely require a ‘public performance’ music licence.
Most popular streaming services are intended for personal use only.
How do I get a licence to play music protected by copyright in my business?
OneMusic gives businesses the ability to legally play the vast majority of the world’s commercially released music. Most licences are available online (link) you simply need to have some basic business information at hand, such as your ABN, the size of your business and a few other basics. There are licences to suit all industries (link).
Where does the money from licence fees go?
Minus a small administration deduction, all money generated from OneMusic licences goes back to music creators as ‘royalties’ paid by APRA AMCOS and PPCA to their members and licensors, both her and overseas.
Licence fees from your OneMusic licence are distributed (paid out) based on data from TV and radio broadcasters, streaming platforms, background music suppliers, live performance reports, audio fingerprinting devices and more.
What happens if I play music protected by copyright in my business without a licence or permission?
Playing copyright-protected music in your Pilates practice without permission or a ‘public performance’ licence may infringe copyright and can lead to a court ordering payment of significant financial damages, potentially exceeding the cost of the original licence fees.
What are my options to play music that wouldn’t need a OneMusic licence?
A OneMusic licence is not required if you only play:
• out-of-copyright music (with caution)
• music whose rightsholders have not given rights to OneMusic (including some ‘royalty-free’ music)
• music directly licensed to you by the rightsholder.
For most businesses, a OneMusic licence remains the simplest pathway under music licensing Australia.
Get Started
To learn more or get started, visit the Fitness, Exercise & Wellbeing Music Licence info guide on the OneMusic website.
You can also speak with OneMusic’s dedicated Pilates team, who are here to help you find the right music licence for your business and ensure you’re only licensed for what you need. For further guidance, contact OneMusic at fitness@onemusic.com.au.
If you are still unsure about needing a licence, take a look at our Do I need a licence? page.
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