By Sonosfera Team
No: Spotify says it is only for personal, non-commercial use and names salons among the businesses where it can't be played, so a UK salon needs a business music option such as Sonosfera, which costs £14.99 a month per zone (£149.90 a year).
Information notice: This is general information, not legal advice. Spotify, PPL PRS and competitor pages below were checked on 26 October 2026. If you spot an error, use the contact page.
What Spotify says
Spotify's support page: "Spotify is only for personal, non-commercial use. This means you can't broadcast or play Spotify publicly from a business, such as bars, restaurants, schools, stores, salons, dance studios, radio stations, etc." Premium doesn't change that. Source: Spotify: public and commercial use.
The same question for Ireland is covered in Can I play Spotify in my Irish salon?.
So what are your legal options?
- Mainstream music plus TheMusicLicence. If you want chart hits, you need TheMusicLicence from PPL PRS and a business music service on top. PPL PRS lists a hair and beauty business playing music via radio with 5 or fewer seats at £238.33 a year plus VAT (cost examples updated February 2026). Source: PPL PRS music licence cost.
- A catalogue outside PPL and PRS. PRS for Music says you may not need a licence if "all the music you use is out of copyright or outside the repertoire we represent". Anything else you play still needs TheMusicLicence.
Start with background music for salons if you want to hear a salon catalogue before you change the speakers.
Where Sonosfera fits
Sonosfera was built in a salon: the founder runs Mesmerising Beauty in Newcastle. It costs £14.99 a month per zone, or £149.90 a year (£12.49 a month). Sonosfera says its catalogue is owned outright and isn't registered with PPL or PRS, so TheMusicLicence isn't needed for Sonosfera playback under an active plan. Each paid account can download a Music Use Certificate, and if PPL or PRS writes to you, Sonosfera explains its catalogue to the society directly. Fees a society assesses on your business stay yours.
What it won't do: no chart hits or specific artists. If your clients expect Top 40, Sonosfera is the wrong tool. See UK pricing.
Honest comparison (UK, per location)
- Sonosfera: £14.99 a month per zone or £149.90 a year. Own catalogue, not registered with PPL or PRS (Sonosfera's own statement).
- Melodial: from £4.99 a month, "no PPL PRS fees" when you play only its catalogue (melodial.com/en-gb).
- Background Sounds: £15 + VAT a month or £150 + VAT a year (backgroundsounds.co.uk).
- SIBEE: £140 a year or £14 a month, "without paying PRS or PPL fees" (sibee.co.uk).
- Spotify Premium: not allowed in your salon at any price.
Other UK services are listed on Compare UK music services.
FAQ
Is Spotify Premium OK for a small salon?
No. Spotify's terms rule out public playback in businesses, and salons are named.
What if I only play it quietly?
If clients can hear it, it is being played publicly in your business.
Do I need TheMusicLicence if I use Sonosfera?
Sonosfera says not for its own catalogue under an active plan. Radio, TV, Spotify or live music in the same salon still need their own licence.
What does it cost?
£14.99 a month per zone, or £149.90 a year. One zone is one independent stream.
What happens if PPL PRS contacts me?
Forward it to Sonosfera; it explains its catalogue to the society, and you keep your certificate on file.
Try it
Start your Sonosfera trial and give your salon music from a catalogue you are allowed to play there.
Sources
- Spotify: public and commercial use (UK), checked 26 October 2026
- PRS for Music: get a music licence
- PPL PRS: music licence cost, cost examples updated February 2026
- Melodial, Background Sounds, SIBEE
