The rise of streaming music services such as Spotify and Apple Music has been a boon for music lovers, offering them unprecedented access to millions of songs at the touch of a button. 

For those who own and operate stores and restaurants, it can be tempting to simply log into one of these services and start pumping out tunes for customers to enjoy. However, doing so could result in some severe legal penalties.

If you are going to avoid legal penalties, it’s essential to understand why using music in a store or restaurant offers benefits to businesses. Read on to discover the risks many commercial locations face when playing streaming music and how you can get around these issues.

Why Use Music in a Store or Restaurant?

If you’ve ever been in a store that plays just the right type of music, you’ve seen the impacts. Your shopping and dining experience are likely to be more pleasant, and you may even find yourself spending more time—and money—in the establishment.

There are a few reasons for this. Music can help to set the tone of a store or restaurant, making it more inviting and welcoming. Studies have shown that music can also help increase productivity and creativity, which could benefit employees.

Additionally, playing music in a commercial setting can create a more positive social atmosphere. Customers are likely to interact more and feel more comfortable in the store or restaurant. This could lead to repeat business and positive word-of-mouth marketing for the company.

However, while there are many benefits to using music in a store or restaurant, there are also some potential risks. The biggest risk is that playing music from a streaming service like Spotify or Apple Music could result in legal penalties for the business.

The Risks of Using Spotify or Apple Music in a Store or Restaurant

There are three primary reasons why using Spotify or Apple Music in a store or restaurant could result in legal penalties.

1. Copyright Infringement

It may seem obvious that using someone else’s music without permission would be illegal, but it’s surprising how many businesses are unaware of this. You use copyrighted material when you play music from a streaming service in a store or restaurant. In most cases, you will need to obtain a license from the copyright holder in order to do so legally.

You could be liable for copyright infringement if you don’t obtain the appropriate license. At best, you will find your account breaking terms and conditions – at worst, you could face fines and penalties.

2. Performance Rights

In addition to the risk of copyright infringement, playing music from a streaming service in a store or restaurant could also violate performance rights. In many countries, businesses need to obtain a performance license to play copyrighted music in a public setting.

Without the rights to play music, you may find yourself up against a legal hill. Avoid these potential issues by making sure you only use music approved for commercial settings. 

3. Royalties

Playing music from a streaming service in a store or restaurant could also result in the business owing royalties to artists and producers. The logic makes sense – if you are making money using another person’s copyrighted material, you may be required to pay them royalties.

You could be liable for copyright infringement if you don’t pay the appropriate royalties. This could result in a lawsuit from the copyright holder, as well as significant financial damages. 

The last thing you want is to get hit with a lawsuit—or owe a large sum of money in royalties—because you were playing music in your store or restaurant without the proper licenses.

Enjoy Risk-Free Background Music in Your Store with Brandtrack

With the risks associated with playing music from a streaming service in a store or restaurant, you may be afraid to move ahead with playing anything in your location.

But nobody wants to work in a completely silent environment, and customers may not enjoy shopping or dining in a store or restaurant that doesn’t have any music playing.

So, what’s a business to do?

The best solution is to partner with a company that provides music specifically for businesses. This way, you can be sure that you have the appropriate licenses and permissions in place, and you won’t have to worry about copyright infringement or owing royalties.

If you are ready to take advantage of music in your brick-and-mortar location without fear of infringement, check out Brandtrack.

Brandtrack offers an innovative platform for any business to play music across all their locations. With in-house DJs that create custom music playlists, you can be sure that the tunes playing in your store or restaurant are appropriate for your business and won’t get you into any legal trouble.

Plus, with Brandtrack, there are no royalty fees—so you can save money while still enjoying the benefits of playing music in your store or restaurant. With an easy-to-learn HQ Dashboard, offline capabilities, and more, Brandtrack is the perfect solution for businesses that want to enjoy music without worrying about copyright infringement.

If you’re ready to start playing music in your store or restaurant without worry, sign up for Brandtrack today You’ll never go back to playing music from a streaming service again!