Music Licence Fines and Penalties in Australia

Playing copyrighted music in your business without a licence is against the law in Australia, and it is actively enforced. Under the Copyright Act 1968, playing commercially released music where customers can hear it is a public performance. Without the right licence, you are infringing copyright, whether the music comes from the radio, a CD, a TV or a streaming app. Melodial removes the risk entirely: the music and the licence in one subscription for A$9.99 per month.

It is the law, and it is enforced

OneMusic does not wait for you to come forward. They send letters, make phone calls, send representatives to listen in person, use music recognition technology, and even check social media for music playing in the background of your posts. Businesses are also reported by competitors and former staff. “Too small to notice” is not a real category.

What it costs when you are caught

OneMusic can take your business to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia under the Copyright Act 1968. The court can order you to pay the back licence fees, the rights holders’ legal costs and additional damages, far more than the licence would ever have cost, along with an injunction that stops you playing music altogether.

Real case: In 2025 an Australian fitness chain that played recorded music across its gyms without a licence was found to have flagrantly infringed copyright. The Federal Circuit and Family Court ordered it to pay more than A$235,000, including A$75,000 in additional damages for the flagrancy, on top of the licence fees it had avoided (APRA v Sweat 1000 Bondi Junction Pty Ltd (No 2) [2025] FedCFamC2G 2121).

Personal streaming makes it worse

Using Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud or YouTube in your business? A personal or premium account does not cover commercial use. Every one of these services prohibits it in their terms, so playing from your own account in a café, shop or gym is still unlicensed public performance, and it leaves a clear record of commercial use on a consumer account.

Even “royalty free” music is not a safe shortcut. Here is why one mislabelled track can still get you caught.

How Melodial removes the risk completely

Melodial owns or directly licenses every track in its catalogue. None of the music is registered with OneMusic or any other collecting society, so there are no royalties for them to collect and no licence for you to buy from them.

Your Melodial subscription is your licence. One payment covers the music and the commercial rights for a single stream, playing through as many speakers as you like at one location.

Certificate of Compliance included. Download your official certificate from your account at any time. If OneMusic or any licensing body contacts your business, show them the certificate. And if you need help responding, forward the email to Melodial and the team will draft the reply.

Get compliant in three steps: sign up for a free trial (no credit card required), pick a playlist from 50+ options across 24 genres, and download your Certificate of Compliance.

Frequently asked questions

Is it really illegal to play music without a licence in Australia?

Yes. Playing commercially released music where customers can hear it is a public performance under the Copyright Act 1968. Without the right licence it is copyright infringement, regardless of intent.

I have not been contacted. Does that mean I am fine?

Not necessarily. Licensing bodies monitor businesses through visits, phone calls, music recognition technology and social media, and they can pursue past unlicensed use once they identify it.

Can they really charge me for the past?

OneMusic can take your business to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia under the Copyright Act 1968. The court can order you to pay the back licence fees, the rights holders’ legal costs and additional damages, far more than the licence would ever have cost, along with an injunction that stops you playing music altogether. The cost of being caught dwarfs the cost of the licence.

How does Melodial make me compliant?

Melodial owns or directly licenses every track, and none of the music is registered with any collecting society, so no fees are owed to them. Your subscription is your licence, backed by a downloadable Certificate of Compliance.

What if I also play some chart music or radio?

Then you still need a OneMusic licence for that music. To be fully covered without one, play Melodial exclusively.