Can You Play Spotify in Your Gym? The Short Answer: No

Spotify's Terms of Service prohibit commercial use. Here's why playing it in your gym is illegal in Australia, the real risks, and what to use instead. VibeBeats is direct-licensed background music for cafés, restaurants, bars, gyms, retail stores, salons, spas, clinics and hotels. No music licensing/PRO fees (*No separate public-performance music licence needed for VibeBeats music.) Other music sources may still require licensing. The AI DJ reshapes each playlist through the trading day.

Can You Play Spotify in Your Gym? Here's Why the Answer Is No

**Short answer: No. Spotify's Terms of Service explicitly prohibit commercial and public use. Playing Spotify in your gym is a breach of contract and a potential copyright infringement under Australian law.**

If you're a gym owner in Australia, this is one of the most important things you need to understand about running your business. And yet, the vast majority of gyms across the country are doing it wrong.

Let's break down exactly why Spotify can't be used in your gym, what the real risks are, and what you should be using instead.

Spotify's Own Rules: No Commercial Use

This isn't a grey area. Spotify's Terms of Service are explicit. Under their usage restrictions, Spotify states that their service is for personal, non-commercial use only.

This means:

• Playing Spotify through speakers in your gym? Not allowed. • Using Spotify during group fitness classes? Not allowed. • Playing Spotify in your reception area as background music? Not allowed. • Using a Spotify Premium account to avoid ads in a commercial setting? Still not allowed.

It doesn't matter whether you're paying for Spotify Free, Premium, or even a Family plan. No Spotify subscription grants you the right to play music publicly in a business.

"But I Pay for Premium..."

This is by far the most common misconception we encounter. Gym owners assume that because they're paying for Spotify Premium, they have the right to use it however they want.

They don't.

Spotify Premium gives you:

• Ad-free listening • Offline downloads • Higher audio quality • Personal use only

What it doesn't give you:

• Public performance rights • Commercial use rights • The legal right to play music in any business setting

A Spotify Premium subscription is a personal entertainment licence. It's designed for you to listen with headphones on the train, not to soundtrack a spin class for 30 people.

The Legal Framework in Australia

Under the Copyright Act 1968, playing music in a public or commercial setting constitutes a "public performance." This requires a specific licence from the rights holders.

In Australia, public performance licensing is managed by OneMusic — a joint initiative of APRA AMCOS (which represents songwriters and publishers) and PPCA (which represents record labels and artists).

The Dual Risk Problem

Here's where it gets complicated for gym owners using Spotify:

Risk 1: Copyright Infringement If you don't have a OneMusic licence, you're infringing copyright every time you play music publicly. APRA AMCOS actively enforces this — they send compliance officers to businesses, including gyms, to check.

Risk 2: Spotify TOS Breach Even if you do have a OneMusic licence, you're still breaching Spotify's Terms of Service by using their platform commercially. The OneMusic licence covers the music rights — it doesn't override Spotify's platform restrictions.

This means a gym owner using Spotify faces two separate legal exposures simultaneously:

What About Apple Music? YouTube Music? Amazon Music?

The same rules apply. All major consumer streaming platforms prohibit commercial and public use in their Terms of Service.

• Apple Music: "You may not use the Services... in any commercial or public setting." • YouTube Music: Personal, non-commercial use only. • Amazon Music: Same restrictions.

There is no consumer streaming service that legally permits you to play music in a gym. Period.

Real Consequences: The $260K Wake-Up Call

If you think enforcement is theoretical, think again.

In early 2026, Sydney gym chain S1 — owned by former NRL player Kieran Turner — was ordered to pay approximately $262,000 in damages for playing unlicensed music during fitness classes.

APRA had warned Turner repeatedly from May 2022. He ignored every communication. Eventually, a compliance officer attended a class at S1's Coogee location and used Shazam to identify 25 copyrighted works being played without a licence.

The Federal Circuit Court ruled against Turner, holding him personally liable for over $161,000 of the total damages. Most S1 locations closed as a result.

For the full story, read our detailed case study: Aussie Gym Fined $260K for Playing Spotify in Classes

"My Trainer Just Plugs In Their Phone..."

This is another dangerous assumption. Many gym owners believe that because a trainer is using their personal Spotify account, the gym isn't liable.

Wrong.

In the S1 case, Judge Manousaridis specifically found that the gym owner had "permitted, sanctioned, approved and countenanced" the trainers' music use. The fact that it was the trainers' personal accounts made no difference.

If you allow trainers to play music during classes — regardless of whose account it is — you, the gym owner, are liable.

Spotify vs. Licensed Commercial Music: A Comparison

— Feature — Spotify — VibeBeats — — Personal listening — ✅ Yes — — — — Commercial/public use — ❌ Prohibited by TOS — ✅ Built for it — — APRA/PPCA compliance — ❌ Separate licence needed — ✅ Included — — Risk of fines — ⚠️ Up to $260K+ — ✅ Zero — — Gym-specific playlists — ❌ DIY — ✅ AI-curated for fitness — — BPM matching — ❌ Manual — ✅ Automatic by class type — — Zone scheduling — ❌ Not available — ✅ Different music per area — — Music scheduling — ❌ Manual — ✅ Automated by time of day —

What Should You Use Instead?

You need a music platform that is specifically designed and licensed for commercial use. This means:

The platform itself permits commercial/public performance — not just the music rights holders Public performance licensing is included — no separate APRA/OneMusic paperwork The music is curated for your venue type — not just a general consumer catalogue

What to Look For in a Commercial Music Platform

• Fitness-specific playlists: HIIT, spin, yoga, weights, stretching — each with appropriate BPM and energy levels • Zone-based control: Different music for cardio floor, weights area, reception, and class studios • Automated scheduling: Music that adjusts by time of day without manual intervention • Full licensing: One fee that covers everything — no compliance headaches • Australian compliance: A platform that understands APRA, PPCA, and OneMusic requirements

VibeBeats: Built for Australian Gyms

VibeBeats was designed from the ground up for commercial venues like gyms and fitness centres. Every track is fully licensed for public performance — no separate APRA paperwork, no OneMusic headaches, no Spotify TOS violations.

Our AI engine curates playlists matched to workout intensity, schedules music by zone and time of day, and gives you complete control from a single dashboard.

One subscription. Full licensing. Purpose-built for fitness.

The alternative is risking a $260,000 fine and your entire business. The choice isn't hard.

Explore VibeBeats for Gyms →

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I play Spotify in my business? No. Spotify's Terms of Service explicitly prohibit commercial and public use. This applies to all subscription tiers, including Premium.

Is it illegal to play Spotify in a gym? Playing Spotify in a gym violates Spotify's TOS and, without a OneMusic licence, constitutes copyright infringement under the Copyright Act 1968.

Do I need a OneMusic licence if I use VibeBeats? VibeBeats includes commercial licensing for all music in our catalogue. You don't need separate APRA/PPCA paperwork for VibeBeats tracks.

What happens if APRA catches me using Spotify? APRA employs compliance officers who visit businesses to check for unlicensed music. If caught, you face potential court action and fines — as the S1 case demonstrated, damages can exceed $260,000.

Want to understand the full cost breakdown? Read: How Much Does Music Licensing Cost for a Gym in Australia?

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