Music for Hair Salons
Hair Salons playing recorded music publicly require a music licence from the relevant collecting society in their country. BPM recommendations vary by period: Standard appointment hours: 85–105 BPM; Late afternoon / Weekend: 100–120 BPM. Track Studios' AI catalog is not registered with any collecting society — venues using it are not billed for the included music.
BPM Recommendations
| Time Period | BPM Range | Genres | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard appointment hours | 85–105 BPM | Pop, R&B, Soul, Indie Pop | Research shows clients rate their experience higher when music matches the premium feel of the service. |
| Late afternoon / Weekend | 100–120 BPM | Pop, Dance, Hip-Hop, Funk | — |
Supporting Research
- Practical Applications of Music in Service Settings (1994)
Service businesses playing music rated as "right for the setting" by customers received higher satisfaction scores, longer average service interactions, and higher tipping rates in food service. Music familiarity had a stronger positive effect than perceived quality.
Music Licensing for Hair Salons by Country
| Country | Collecting Societies | Estimated Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Sweden | STIM + SAMI | SEK Varies/year |
| Norway | TONO + Gramo | NOK Varies/year |
| Denmark | KODA + Gramex | DKK Varies/year |
| Finland | Teosto + Gramex | EUR Varies/year |
| Germany | GEMA + GVL | EUR Varies/year |
| Netherlands | Buma/Stemra + SENA | EUR Varies/year |
| Belgium | SABAM + PlayRight | EUR Varies/year |
| France | SACEM | EUR Varies/year |
| United Kingdom | PRS + PPL | GBP Varies/year |
| United States | ASCAP + BMI + SESAC + GMR + SoundExchange | USD Varies/year |
| Canada | SOCAN + Re:Sound | CAD Varies/year |
| Australia | APRA AMCOS + PPCA | AUD Varies/year |
Royalty-Free Music for Hair Salons
Track Studios provides business music that is not registered with any collecting society. Hair Salons using the included catalog are not invoiced by STIM, GEMA, PRS, ASCAP, or other PROs.
Start free trialFrequently Asked Questions
- Do hair salons need a music licence?
- Yes. In most countries, playing recorded music in a hair salon is a public performance that requires a licence from the relevant collecting society — for example, GEMA in Germany, TheMusicLicence (PRS + PPL) in the UK, or ASCAP and BMI in the USA. Track Studios' AI catalog is not registered with any of these societies, so hair salons using it are not invoiced for the included music.
- Can hair salons use Spotify legally?
- No. Spotify's Terms of Service (§1.2) restrict use to "personal, non-commercial purposes." Using Spotify in a hair salon violates these terms and may also expose the business to claims from collecting societies for the underlying music rights. Spotify for Business was discontinued in 2019.
- What is the ideal BPM for hair salons?
- BPM recommendations vary by time period. During standard appointment hours, 85–105 BPM is recommended (genres: Pop, R&B). During late afternoon / weekend, 100–120 BPM is recommended (genres: Pop, Dance).
- How can hair salons avoid collecting society fees?
- Use music that is not registered with collecting societies. Track Studios uses an AI-generated catalog that is not registered with STIM, GEMA, PRS, ASCAP, BMI, or any other collecting society. Hair Salons using the included catalog are not invoiced by these organisations.
- What happens if a hair salon is caught playing music without a licence?
- The collecting society can issue a civil claim for back-fees (typically covering 2–3 years of unlicensed use), plus additional damages. In Germany, the Berlin fitness studio case resulted in €42,000 in damages. In the USA, statutory damages can reach $150,000 per infringed work.