Can I Play Spotify in My Salon? The Legal Truth
Most salon owners think their Spotify subscription covers them. It doesn't.
You're paying £11.99 a month for Premium, but that only covers personal use. Playing that same playlist in your salon, cafe, or shop is a violation of copyright law. It exposes you to fines that can reach thousands of pounds.
Here is the uncomfortable truth about music licensing in the UK, what it actually costs, and how to fix it without spending a fortune.
Is it illegal to play Spotify in a business?
Yes. It is a breach of Spotify’s Terms and Conditions and UK copyright law.
If you look at Spotify’s Terms and Conditions of Use, Section 4 is explicit:
"The Spotify Service and the Content are the property of Spotify or Spotify's licensors. We grant you limited, non-exclusive, revocable permission to make use of the Spotify Service... for your personal, non-commercial use."
"Personal use" means headphones or your living room. "Commercial use" means any environment where you are making money. This includes:
- Hair and beauty salons
- Barbershops
- Cafes and restaurants
- Retail shops
- Hotel lobbies
- Gyms
When you play music in a business, it is considered a "public performance." Artists and record labels require a higher royalty rate for this because your business benefits from the atmosphere their music creates.
Spotify does not pay these higher royalties. Therefore, your subscription does not cover you.
The PPL and PRS Confusion
If you can't use Spotify alone, most UK business owners assume they just need "a licence." This is where it gets expensive.
In the UK, there are two separate organisations you need to pay:
- PPL (Phonographic Performance Limited): They represent the record labels and performers. They own the rights to the actual recording.
- PRS for Music (Performing Right Society): They represent the songwriters, composers, and publishers. They own the rights to the lyrics and melody. You can check if you need a licence on the PRS website.
For decades, you had to buy two separate licences. If you had a PRS licence but not a PPL licence, you were still breaking the law.
Real businesses get caught on this technicality constantly. A UK hairdresser was fined £1,569 for playing music without a PPL licence, despite trying to comply with PRS separately. They thought they were covered. They weren't.
