Who licenses what
| Who | What for | |
|---|---|---|
| APRA AMCOS | APRA AMCOS | Musical works |
| PPCA | Phonographic Performance Company of Australia | Sound recordings and music videos |
| OneMusic | OneMusic Australia | Joint APRA AMCOS and PPCA licensing for businesses |
Dr.DIO · Music license in Australia
Music licence for a café, restaurant or shop in Australia
Australian businesses get one OneMusic licence covering both APRA AMCOS (musical works) and PPCA (recordings and music videos).
Which license a café, shop or hotel needs
The OneMusic Dining licence covers restaurants, cafés, bistros and takeaways for background music, featured music, website use and music on hold; venues with under 7 seats use the Retail and Service Providers licence, which covers shops and service businesses. OneMusic replaced separate APRA and PPCA licences from 2019.
How the fee is worked out
Dining fees depend on seating capacity and the device used to play music (for example radio or streaming). OneMusic says sector fees start at AUD 100 a year, payable monthly or annually. Current per seat figures were not confirmed for this guide.
Can I play Spotify or YouTube in my business?
Consumer plans of Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube are licensed for personal, noncommercial use under their own terms, so a private account is not a license to play music to customers. OneMusic says a background music supplier's package may already include a OneMusic licence.
Music outside the collecting societies
Under the Copyright Act 1968 public performance of both musical works and sound recordings is an exclusive right of the owner. No mandatory collective management or extended licensing for venue playback was found, and no statutory presumption that OneMusic represents all repertoire.
Directly licensed music outside APRA AMCOS and PPCA repertoire therefore removes the need, if the venue keeps the licence and track records. Caveat: APRA takes an assignment of performing rights from its members, so a member songwriter cannot normally license performance directly; check that the composer is not an APRA (or affiliated foreign society) member.
OneMusic says unlicensed playing is copyright infringement and can end in court; specific penalties were not documented.
Dr.DIO in Australia
Dr.DIO Studio makes its own electronic and ambient music, no Dr.DIO track is registered with any collecting society, and the Business plan ($14.99 a month per venue, 14 days free) gives the venue a direct public playback license and a certificate for Dr.DIO music.
Australian law gives the owner an exclusive right with no mandatory collective rule, and Dr.DIO composers are not members of APRA or any affiliated society, so a venue playing only Dr.DIO music needs no OneMusic licence for it. Keep the certificate and track records.
Any other music in the venue, such as radio, TV, live music or other playlists, still needs the usual licences.
Official sources
- APRA AMCOS: https://www.apraamcos.com.au
- PPCA: https://www.ppca.com.au
- OneMusic: https://onemusic.com.au
- OneMusic Australia licence page: https://onemusic.com.au/cafes-and-restaurants
- OneMusic Australia licence page: https://onemusic.com.au/licences/
- OneMusic: https://onemusic.com.au/licences/dining/fee-methodology-guide/
- OneMusic: https://onemusic.com.au/background-music-suppliers/
- Australian Government business licence register (ABLIS): https://ablis.business.gov.au/service/ag/dining-music-licence/39930
- Spotify Terms of Use: https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/end-user-agreement/
About this guide
This page explains the general rules as published by the societies and laws listed above, checked in October 2026. It is not legal advice; fees and rules change, so confirm with the society before you decide.
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Questions
What does a OneMusic licence for a café cost?
It depends on seating capacity and how music is played. OneMusic says sector fees start at AUD 100 a year.
Do I need a music licence for a café in Australia?
Yes, if you play music from APRA AMCOS or PPCA repertoire; the usual route is the OneMusic Dining licence.
Can I play Spotify in my café in Australia?
No. Personal plans are for personal, noncommercial use. Some business music suppliers include a OneMusic licence.
What is the OneMusic dining licence fee per seat?
Current per seat figures were not confirmed for this guide; the fee depends on seats and the device used.
Do I need a music licence for my shop?
Yes for protected music; shops use the OneMusic Retail and Service Providers licence.
Do I need both APRA and PPCA for a restaurant?
Both are covered by one OneMusic licence.