Royalty-Free or Unregistered Music: What Venues Should Check

Written by Luke Tyler, composer

Royalty-free massage music sounds like the perfect fix. Pay once, or nothing at all, and play it in your treatment rooms. Sometimes that's true. Sometimes the label hides a catch.

We license unregistered music to spas and salons, so we get asked about this a lot. Here's how to check any music before you rely on it at work.

The short answer

“Royalty-free” doesn't always mean free to play in public. Before you use any music in a venue, check two things in writing. Is it registered with PRS, PPL or another collecting society? And does your licence let you play it in public at your venue?

GOV.UK says “You do not need a licence to play royalty-free music.” That holds when the music truly isn't managed by a collecting society. The trouble is that labels don't always tell you.

What the labels mean

Music is sold with lots of different labels. They sound similar, but they can mean very different things.

Royalty-free

Usually, this means you pay once to use the music, with no ongoing royalty to the seller. It often refers to using music in videos or online content. Some royalty-free tracks are still registered with PRS or PPL. If they are, playing them in public can still need TheMusicLicence.

Unregistered or PRO-free

This means the music has never been handed to a performing rights organisation, like PRS or PPL. The composer or label keeps the rights. To play it in public, you need their permission and nobody else's.

Copyright-free or “no copyright”

Be careful with this one. Almost all recent music is protected by copyright. “Copyright-free” is often used loosely to mean royalty-free. Ask exactly what it means before you trust it.

Creative Commons

Creative Commons licences let creators share work on set terms. Some only allow non-commercial use, which rules out a business. Others need you to credit the artist. Read the specific licence, and check whether the artist is registered with a collecting society.

Where venues find royalty-free massage music

Most of it comes from a few places:

• YouTube channels. Free to watch at home, but YouTube's terms limit viewing to personal, non-commercial use. We cover this in YouTube spa music in treatment rooms.
• Stock music sites. Often licensed for videos and online content. Public performance may or may not be included.
• Relaxation apps. Usually for personal use. Check the terms before playing them to clients.
• Composers who license direct. Music licensed straight to your venue, with the terms in writing.

Seven things to check with any supplier

Whoever you buy from, these questions will tell you where you stand:

1. Is the music registered with PRS, PPL or any other collecting society? If yes, you'll likely need TheMusicLicence to play it at work.
2. Does the licence include playing it in public at a business? A licence for videos or podcasts isn't enough.
3. Who holds the rights? You want the composer, label or someone with clear permission to license it.
4. Does the licence name your venue? A named licence is much easier to show if anyone asks.
5. How long does it last? Check whether it runs out or needs renewing.
6. Does it cover every room? Some licences may be limited to one space or one device.
7. Can you have it all in writing? A certificate or written licence is your proof.

A good supplier will answer all seven without fuss. If the answers are vague, treat the music as registered and plan for TheMusicLicence.

Red flags to watch for

• No named rights holder, or no way to contact them.
• Terms that only mention videos, podcasts or social media.
• “Personal use only” anywhere in the small print.
• No written licence or certificate after you pay.
• Music you can't download, only stream from a personal app.

What good proof looks like

PPL PRS says that if you don't think your music is covered by it, you should ask your supplier for confirmation. If you forward that on, it says it will update its records.

Good proof should show:

• your venue's name and address
• the music it covers
• who licensed it to you, and when
• that you can play it in public at that venue
• whether the music is registered with a collecting society

Keep it with your business papers, where any manager can find it. If PPL PRS ever gets in touch, our post on what to do if PPL PRS contacts your spa walks you through your reply.

How Dawn Chorus answers those questions

We wrote Dawn Chorus to make these answers simple. Every track is composed by us, and none of it has ever been registered with PRS, PPL or any other collecting society.

Each plan licenses one venue by name and address. It covers every treatment room, therapist and session in that venue's spa and wellness areas. You pay a flat price per venue, quarterly or yearly, and a new certificate arrives with every renewal, ready to send to anyone who asks. Cancel anytime. You can read the full terms on our licensing page.

For massage rooms, Warm Ground and Still Water are the collections most therapists start with.

Playing a mix? Cover the rest

A direct licence only covers the music it names. If you also play the radio, Spotify or the TV anywhere on site, you still need TheMusicLicence for that. Our guide to music licence options for business explains how the pieces fit together.

This post is general guidance, not legal advice. If you're not sure what your venue needs, contact PPL PRS or a legal adviser.

FAQs

Do I need a licence to play royalty-free massage music?

Not if it's truly unregistered and your licence lets you play it in public. GOV.UK says you don't need a licence to play royalty-free music. But some royalty-free tracks are registered with PRS or PPL, so check with the supplier in writing.

What's the difference between royalty-free and unregistered music?

Royalty-free usually means you pay once to use it, often in videos. It may still be registered with a collecting society. Unregistered music has never been handed to one, so the owner alone can license it.

Is free massage music on YouTube royalty-free?

Not necessarily. Titles like “no copyright” aren't proof. YouTube's terms also limit viewing to personal, non-commercial use, so it isn't a safe choice for a business.

What proof should I keep?

A written licence or certificate that names your venue, the music and the supplier. It should say you can play the music in public, and whether it's registered with a collecting society. Keep it with your business papers.

Can I use Creative Commons music in my spa?

Only if the specific licence allows commercial use, and you follow its terms. Some Creative Commons licences rule out business use. Also check whether the artist is registered with a collecting society.