Can You Legally Use Spotify in a Business in Singapore?
The short answer is no. Spotify — including Spotify Premium, Spotify Free, and even Spotify for Business — is not licensed for commercial or public performance use in Singapore. Playing Spotify in your restaurant, hotel, retail store, cafe, or any business premises violates Spotify’s own terms of service and infringes Singapore copyright law.
Despite this, thousands of Singapore businesses play Spotify daily, unaware that they are operating illegally and exposing themselves to enforcement action from collecting societies COMPASS and MRSS, as well as direct claims from rights holders.
Why Spotify Cannot Be Used in Business Premises
Spotify licences music for personal, non-commercial listening only. When you play Spotify in a commercial setting — even softly in the background — you are performing music publicly. This triggers five separate commercial music rights under Singapore law, none of which Spotify grants:
| Commercial Right Required | Spotify Grants It? | MUSICVYBE Grants It? |
|---|---|---|
| Public Performance of Composition | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Public Performance of Sound Recording | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Reproduction of Sound Recording | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Recording / Master Rights | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Publishing Rights | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
The Legal Risk of Using Spotify in Your Singapore Business
Using Spotify commercially in Singapore creates a dual layer of legal risk:
1. Copyright infringement under the Copyright Act. Playing music publicly without holding all five commercial rights constitutes copyright infringement. Collecting societies COMPASS (for compositions) and MRSS (for sound recordings) actively audit and enforce compliance across Singapore businesses.
2. Breach of Spotify’s Terms of Service. Spotify’s terms explicitly state the service is for personal, non-commercial use. Commercial use violates the licence agreement and can result in account termination.
Even paying COMPASS and MRSS fees does not make Spotify legal for business use. Those licences only cover two of the five required rights, and neither COMPASS nor MRSS can grant you the right to publicly perform Spotify’s specific recordings — that right belongs to the record labels and rights holders who licence to Spotify for personal use only.
What About Spotify for Business?
Spotify previously offered a “Spotify for Business” tier through a partner called Soundtrack Your Brand. However, this still does not cover all five commercial music rights in Singapore. Businesses using this service remain partially licensed at best and still require separate collecting society payments. It is not a complete legal solution.
The Legal Alternative: MUSICVYBE
MUSICVYBE is purpose-built for commercial music use in Singapore. Our directly licensed private-label music library covers all five commercial rights in a single subscription — no COMPASS fees, no MRSS fees, no gaps in your licensing.
Businesses across Singapore trust MUSICVYBE for fully compliant background music, including Jewel Changi Airport, Swissotel Singapore, Fairmont Singapore, and UOB Privilege Banking.
Learn more about Singapore music licensing laws and the five rights your business must hold.
Background Music for Every Singapore Business Type
MUSICVYBE provides legal, fully licensed background music for Singapore businesses in every sector:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is playing Spotify in my shop illegal in Singapore?
Yes. Playing Spotify in any business premises open to staff or the public constitutes a public performance. Spotify does not grant commercial or public performance rights. This is a copyright infringement under Singapore law.
What if I pay COMPASS and MRSS — can I use Spotify then?
No. COMPASS and MRSS licences cover only two of the five required commercial rights. Even with those licences, you lack recording/master rights and publishing rights. Additionally, Spotify’s terms prohibit commercial use regardless of what external licences you hold.
Can I use YouTube or Apple Music in my business instead?
No. YouTube, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and all consumer streaming platforms are licensed for personal use only. The same five-right requirement applies to any music played in a commercial setting in Singapore.
What is the penalty for using Spotify in a business in Singapore?
Penalties for copyright infringement in Singapore include statutory damages, court-ordered injunctions, and legal costs. Collecting societies actively audit businesses and can pursue retrospective licence fees for years of unlicensed use.
How does MUSICVYBE compare to Spotify for business use?
MUSICVYBE covers all five commercial music rights in one subscription. Spotify covers none. See our detailed MUSICVYBE vs Spotify comparison for a full breakdown.
Switch to Legal Background Music Today
Stop the risk. MUSICVYBE gives you fully licensed, fully managed background music — legally compliant from day one.
Call us: +65 6950 4304
Visit: MUSICVYBE, Level 6, Republic Plaza, 9 Raffles Place, Singapore 048619