Music for Spas

Spas playing recorded music publicly require a music licence from the relevant collecting society in their country. BPM recommendations vary by period: Treatment rooms: 40–65 BPM; Reception / Lounge: 65–80 BPM; Thermal pools / Sauna: 55–75 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
Treatment rooms	40–65 BPM	Ambient, Healing Frequencies, Nature Sounds, Spa Music, Tibetan	Tempos below 60 BPM support heart rate reduction and parasympathetic nervous system activation, enhancing relaxation response.
Reception / Lounge	65–80 BPM	Acoustic, Light Jazz, World Music, Chill	—
Thermal pools / Sauna	55–75 BPM	Nordic, Ambient, Atmospheric, World	—

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 Interventions for Preoperative Anxiety (2014)
Music interventions in preoperative settings reduced patient anxiety significantly (standardized mean difference -0.68 vs. standard care). Music also reduced heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate. No adverse effects were identified.

Music Licensing for Spas 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 Spas

Track Studios provides business music that is not registered with any collecting society. Spas using the included catalog are not invoiced by STIM, GEMA, PRS, ASCAP, or other PROs.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do spas need a music licence?: Yes. In most countries, playing recorded music in a spa 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 spas using it are not invoiced for the included music.
Can spas use Spotify legally?: No. Spotify's Terms of Service (§1.2) restrict use to "personal, non-commercial purposes." Using Spotify in a spa 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 spas?: BPM recommendations vary by time period. During treatment rooms, 40–65 BPM is recommended (genres: Ambient, Healing Frequencies). During reception / lounge, 65–80 BPM is recommended (genres: Acoustic, Light Jazz). During thermal pools / sauna, 55–75 BPM is recommended (genres: Nordic, Ambient).
How can spas 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. Spas using the included catalog are not invoiced by these organisations.
What happens if a spa 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.