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Music licensing for gyms and fitness studios in the United States

One license covers your floor and your classes.

Background music and the public performance license for your gym floor, lobby and instructor-led classes, in one subscription. $6.99 a month per location.

14-day free trial · No credit card required · Cancel anytime

Why classes need their own license

Every business music service we checked that includes US performing rights excludes instructor-led classes. Rockbot's terms say its license "does not cover any instructed fitness classes" (Rockbot subscriber terms). Pandora CloudCover excludes classes where music is "integral to the class activity", such as yoga, Pilates or Zumba (CloudCover licensing FAQ). Soundtrack's terms exclude businesses that run "instructed health club classes, such as aerobics or dance classes to music" (Soundtrack terms). SoundMachine says it "does not currently cover gyms and fitness facilities in the US" (SoundMachine).

So a gym that runs classes needs its own fitness licenses from the performing rights organizations. At their published rates, BMI's fitness club license costs at least $420 a year (BMI 2025–26 rates) and ASCAP's group-class license starts at $545 a year (ASCAP 2026 rates). That's $965 a year or more before SESAC and GMR, which quote their fees separately. BMI also notes that a streaming subscription doesn't include US performing rights (BMI fitness licensing).

Those licenses are how gyms play mainstream music, and they do the job. Melodial is a different route for gyms that don't need chart hits.

What licenses for classes cost a small gym

The smallest published tiers for BMI and ASCAP fitness licenses, compared with Melodial Basic on the annual plan. Larger clubs pay more.

$965+
$965
BMI + ASCAP / year
$69.99
Melodial Basic / year
Licenses alone start at
$965
a year for a gym that runs classes, before SESAC, GMR or a music service.

Melodial Basic is $69.99 a year, or $6.99 a month, per location. The music and the license for your floor and your classes are in one bill.

BMI Fitness Club license, 2025–26 schedule: minimum annual fee of $420 per location. ASCAP 2026 Rate Schedule for Fitness Clubs: group classes with a weekly participant capacity of 1 to 500, $545 a year. SESAC and GMR don't publish fitness rates on their websites. Melodial Basic on the annual plan for one location or zone. Sources: BMI, ASCAP.

How Melodial works in a gym

Melodial owns every track in its catalog outright, and none of it is registered with ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, GMR or any other performing rights organization. The license comes straight from us, the owner, and it's built into your subscription.

Floor, lobby and locker rooms

Play one stream to as many speakers as you like at your location, from a phone, tablet, computer or Sonos.

✓ Covered by Melodial

Instructor-led classes

Group fitness, HIIT, cycling, yoga, Pilates and more, as long as the class plays Melodial music.

✓ Covered by Melodial

Different music in each room

Want one playlist in the studio and another on the floor at the same time? Add a license for each zone.

One license per zone

Our license covers Melodial music only. Radio, TV, personal streaming apps and instructors' own playlists still need licenses from the performing rights organizations.

Playlists for every class on the timetable

High-energy playlists for the floor and HIIT, and calmer ambient music for yoga, stretch and cool-down.

Beast Mode
Beast Mode
Driving · Bold · Relentless

Big, high-energy tracks to power the main floor.

HIIT Session
HIIT Session
Explosive · Fast · Intense

Interval-ready beats that push through every round.

Power Circuit
Power Circuit
Pumping · Strong · Motivating

Steady, motivating energy for strength and circuits.

Ambient Textures
Ambient Textures
Soft · Spacious · Still

Soft, spacious textures for yoga, stretch and cool-down.

For a class to be covered by our license, every track in it has to come from Melodial.

Start your free trial to hear the full catalog.

Built for how you train

The same license works across every kind of fitness business. Pick the guide for yours.

Yoga, Pilates and barre studios

Calm, wordless playlists for flow, stretch and the end of class, licensed for every class on your timetable.

Learn more →

Spin, cycling and HIIT studios

High-energy electronic playlists for sprints, climbs and work-rest intervals, licensed for the class and the floor.

Learn more →

Martial arts and boxing gyms

Driving instrumental playlists for drills, pad work and open mat, licensed for class.

Learn more →

24/7 and independent gyms

A broad, upbeat mix for your floor, staffed or unstaffed, at $6.99 a month per location.

Learn more →

Functional fitness and strength gyms

Heavy, high-energy playlists for strength blocks, conditioning and open gym, licensed for classes.

Learn more →

14-day free trial · No credit card required · Cancel anytime

Pricing for gyms

Melodial BasicMelodial Plus
Price$6.99/month or $69.99/year$13.99/month or $139.99/year
Billed perLocation, or each zone playing different music at the same timeLocation, or each zone playing different music at the same time
Music and license for your floor and classes✓✓
Music License Certificate✓✓
Expert-made playlists, or build your own✓✓
Scheduling by time of dayNot included✓
Voice announcementsNot included✓
Admin and user permissionsNot included✓

All prices in US dollars. See full pricing · About Melodial Plus

Proof on paper, from day one

When you subscribe, you can download a Music License Certificate from your account. It names your business and your location, and states that Melodial's music is licensed directly by its owner, with no license needed from any collecting society.

If a licensing representative visits or writes to your gym, show them the certificate. Don't sign or pay anything on the spot, and forward the correspondence to support@melodial.com within 14 days. We reply to them directly as the owner of the music.

Covers Melodial music only. If you also play radio, TV or other music, you'll still need licenses from the performing rights organizations for that music.

Set up in three steps

  1. Start your free trial. Enter your email and the 6-digit code we send. No credit card required.
  2. Pick your playlists. Play through the app on a phone, tablet or computer connected to your speakers, or through Sonos.
  3. Download your Music License Certificate. Keep it at the front desk for your floor and your classes.

Questions from gyms and fitness studios

Does Melodial's license really cover group fitness classes?
Yes. Melodial owns every track in its catalog outright, so our license covers instructor-led classes as well as background music on the floor, at the location on your subscription. The class has to play Melodial music: instructors' own playlists aren't covered.
Do I still need licenses from ASCAP, BMI, SESAC or GMR?
Not for Melodial music. None of our tracks is registered with a performing rights organization. If you also play radio, TV, personal streaming apps or other music, you still need their licenses for that music.
How is Melodial priced for a gym?
Melodial Basic is $6.99 a month, or $69.99 a year, per location. That covers one stream playing to as many speakers as you like. If you want different music in different areas at the same time, each zone needs its own license. Melodial Plus is $13.99 a month, or $139.99 a year, per location or zone.
Can I schedule different music for classes and open gym hours?
Scheduling by time of day comes with Melodial Plus, along with voice announcements and user permissions. On Basic, you choose what plays from the app.
Can instructors play music from their own phones?
Yes, if they play Melodial through your gym's subscription and only one device plays per license at a time. Music from their own Spotify, Apple Music or downloaded files isn't covered by our license.
What happens if a licensing representative contacts my gym?
Show them your Music License Certificate. Don't sign or pay anything on the spot, and forward any letter or email to support@melodial.com within 14 days. We reply directly as the owner of the music.
Do you have chart hits?
No. Melodial plays its own catalog, written and produced for venues like yours. If your members expect specific mainstream songs, a mainstream music service plus licenses from the performing rights organizations is the right route.
How does the free trial work?
Start with your email address, confirm the 6-digit code we send you, and play the full catalog free for 14 days. No credit card is required, and you can cancel anytime.

Good to know: Melodial plays its own catalog, not chart hits. If your members expect specific mainstream songs, licenses from ASCAP, BMI, SESAC and GMR plus a mainstream music service are the right fit.

What our customers say
“I am a Pilates teacher and I used Melodial for the first time last week. My students loved it. The music created a great ambience for class without being overpowering. Overall, Melodial [is an] affordable way to play background music. As a growing micro business, I'm grateful!”
Ness W., Pilates instructor

Try it in your gym for 14 days.

Music and the license for your floor and your classes, for $6.99 a month. No credit card required. Cancel anytime.

See pricing →

Start your free trial No credit card required