Yes. Playing copyrighted music in your yoga studio is legally a public performance, so you must obtain permission via a music license. In practice this means getting a public performance license (often called a “blanket license”) from one or more Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) such as ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC. This license covers the right to play songs in public. (Playing music from personal streaming services like Spotify or CDs alone does not grant public performance rights.) There is, however, a simpler and more cost-effective alternative that many yoga studios and instructors are turning to: purpose-built royalty-free meditation music with a clear commercial license — like the music available at Meditation Music Library.
What Is a Public Performance License?
A public performance license is permission from music copyright owners to play their songs in public settings. U.S. copyright law grants songwriters and publishers the exclusive right to perform their music publicly. A yoga class, even a small one, is considered a public performance (any performance outside a private family circle). Thus, any time you play a copyrighted song during class – whether live or recorded – you need a license. Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) like ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC administer these licenses. A blanket license from a PRO covers every song in that PRO’s catalog for the license term. To cover all possible songs, studios often license with all three PROs because each represents different song catalogs.
The alternative — and the one that is growing in popularity among yoga and meditation teachers — is to use royalty-free music that comes with a license specifically designed for this type of use. This eliminates the need for PRO blanket licenses entirely, as long as the music you use is not registered with a PRO.
Why a License Matters – Legal Requirements and Risks
Music licensing is a legal requirement. Courts have held that businesses (including yoga studios, gyms, classrooms, parks, etc.) must obtain licenses for any public music performance. If you don’t have a license, the copyright owners can sue or demand significant penalties. Real-world cases show costly fines: small businesses have faced demand letters for thousands of dollars per song, and high-profile lawsuits against fitness companies have sought millions.
Consequences of non-compliance:
- Statutory damages start at $750 per song and can reach $150,000 per song.
- Music publishers and PROs monitor compliance; ignoring licensing requests can be considered willful infringement.
- Losing suits or settlements can cost far more than the cost of a license.
Because playing music is an intentional benefit to your classes (enhancing student experience), courts typically impose the maximum penalties if you ignore licensing. In short, having the proper license protects you legally and ethically — and choosing music that comes with a clear, purpose-built license from the start is the cleanest way to stay protected.
Who Needs the License – Studio Owners and Teachers
Legally, whoever operates the class is responsible. Generally:
- Studio/Gym Owners: If you run a yoga studio or gym, you must secure the music licenses and pay the fees. Even if teachers bring their own playlists, the business is ultimately liable.
- Independent Instructors: If you freelance outside a licensed venue (e.g. in parks, clients’ homes, unlicensed spaces), you personally must have a license. An instructor teaching at an unlicensed site is responsible for licensing their music.
In both cases, confirm that classes – even yoga – are considered public performances. (A private home class with close friends not on payroll might be a gray area, but anything resembling a public or paid class requires licensing.)
One practical solution for both studio owners and independent instructors is to use music from Meditation Music Library. Our End User License Agreement explicitly permits use in online and in-person meditation and yoga classes — one license per person for individual instructors, and one license per location for studios.
Types of Music Licenses for Yoga Studios
The most common license for studios is the blanket public performance license from PROs. Here’s how they work and what other options exist:
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Blanket Licenses from PROs (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC):
Each PRO offers a yearly license for businesses (often under a “Fitness Club” or “Premises” category). A single PRO’s license lets you play all the songs in that PRO’s catalog, as often as you like. To legally cover all mainstream music, studios usually get licenses from ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC. For yoga studios, ASCAP offers a special low-cost “Premises License” (around $68/year) for yoga classes, and SESAC has Yoga Instructor/Studio licenses ($92–$228/year). Prices and programs may change, so check the PRO websites directly. -
Fitness/Studio Streaming Services:
Some music services bundle the license. These cost more than a consumer app but may be cheaper than three separate PRO licenses. Important: regular consumer subscriptions (Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music, SiriusXM personal, etc.) do not include public performance rights. Only specialized commercial subscriptions or PRO licenses cover group class use. -
Royalty-Free Meditation Music (the simplest option for yoga and meditation):
To avoid PRO fees entirely, many instructors use royalty-free music that comes with a commercial license. This is where Meditation Music Library stands apart. Our music is not registered with any PRO, which means no blanket license is required. You purchase the track once, and our license covers your yoga and meditation classes — online and in-person — without any ongoing fees. The music is also composed specifically for meditation and yoga, so it is sonically suited to the practice in a way that general commercial music is not. -
Live or Original Music:
If you compose and perform your own original music, you hold the rights and no PRO license is needed. Hiring live musicians requires you to ensure the composition rights are cleared; using a live singer still requires that the composition be original or licensed.
Key Point: If a song is copyrighted (not public domain) and played in class, you need permission. The license can come from a PRO, from the artist directly, or via a service that includes rights — like Meditation Music Library.
Why Meditation Music Library Is the Best Option for Yoga Studios and Instructors
Most royalty-free music libraries are built for video producers, podcasters, and advertisers. The music is not composed with yoga or meditation in mind, and the licenses are not written with yoga instructors in mind either. You often end up with music that feels out of place in a class setting, and a license that leaves you guessing about whether your specific use is covered.
Meditation Music Library is different. Every track in our library is composed specifically for meditation, yoga, and mindfulness — with the right frequencies, pacing, and emotional tone to support a yoga practice. And our End User License Agreement explicitly covers yoga class use, so there is no ambiguity.
Here are our collections that are most relevant for yoga studios and instructors:
- Yoga Class — Music Collection — our dedicated yoga music collection, composed specifically as a soundtrack for yoga classes of all styles, from gentle flow to deep relaxation
- Sleep Meditation Music Bundle — slow, deeply calming tracks perfect for yoga nidra and restorative yoga
- Morning Meditation Music Bundle — uplifting, gentle music to open a morning vinyasa or sunrise practice
- Choral Meditation Music Bundle — sacred, choir-infused soundscapes that bring a devotional quality to kirtan-inspired or spiritual yoga classes
- Meditate & Relax Vol. 1 — Bestseller Collection — our most popular tracks in one bundle, versatile enough for any yoga or meditation class setting
- Meditate & Relax Vol. 2 — Bestseller Collection — a second volume of fan-favourite tracks, ideal for studios that want variety across multiple class formats
Each purchase comes with a clear commercial license. No PRO registration, no blanket license fees, no ongoing royalties.
What Our License Covers for Yoga Studios and Instructors
Our End User License Agreement is written in plain language and designed specifically for creators and practitioners in the meditation and yoga space. Here is what it covers for studio and class use:
✅ What you can do:
- Use the music in online and in-person yoga and meditation classes
- Use the music in commercial environments such as spas, cafes, hotels, and studios
- Add voiceover, binaural beats, nature sounds, and sound effects
- Use the music in YouTube videos, courses, podcasts, and multimedia projects
- Sell and monetize your finished product (e.g. a recorded yoga class or guided meditation)
- Edit, shorten, loop, or extend the music within your project
❌ What is not allowed:
- Selling or distributing the music as a standalone audio product
- Claiming the music as your own or creating derivative works for resale
- Registering content with Content ID or sync licensing systems
- Radio and TV broadcast (requires prior permission — contact us at narek@musicofwisdom.com)
One license covers one location (for studios) or one person (for individual instructors). For the full terms, visit our End User License Agreement.
How to Obtain a License
- Identify Your Needs: Decide which music you play most. If it’s mostly popular or commercial tracks, you’ll need PRO licenses. If you want music that is purpose-built for yoga and meditation — and want to skip the PRO process entirely — Meditation Music Library is the right starting point.
- Contact PROs (if using mainstream music): You can contact ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC directly. They will quote rates based on studio size, number of classes, etc. Some offer online sign-up or application forms.
- Yoga Alliance Specials: If you’re a Yoga Alliance member, check for any PRO discounts or deals (e.g. Yoga Alliance has noted special ASCAP pricing for members).
- Browse Meditation Music Library: Visit meditationmusiclibrary.com, choose the tracks or bundles that fit your class style, and purchase. Your commercial license is included with every purchase — no separate application needed.
- Keep Records: Once licensed, document your coverage. Keep copies of agreements and purchase receipts in case of audit. At Meditation Music Library, your purchase history is stored in your account.
The cost of PRO licenses can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars per year, depending on studio size and usage. By contrast, a single track or bundle from Meditation Music Library is a one-time purchase with no recurring fees — and the music is designed specifically for the practice.
Alternatives and Best Practices
- Spotify/YouTube Caution: Personal subscriptions don’t cover classes. Only use Spotify or similar with an explicit commercial license, or better yet, use services designed for classes. Do not assume your paid Spotify account is enough.
- Royalty-Free Libraries: General royalty-free sites exist, but most are built for video production and advertising — not yoga. The music often doesn’t fit the practice, and the licenses may not explicitly cover class use. Meditation Music Library is purpose-built for exactly this use case.
- Public Domain Music: Using classical or traditional music (e.g. Gregorian chants, old ragas) can avoid licensing if truly in the public domain. However, modern recordings or arrangements of classical pieces may still be copyrighted.
- Live Music or Mantras: Some teachers chant or use recorded chants. Mantra singing often involves copyrighted melodies or lyrics, so treat them like any song unless you wrote them.
- No-Music Classes: As a last resort, you can simply play no music. Many yoga styles can be taught without background music, eliminating licensing need entirely.
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
- Playing copyrighted music from CDs, iTunes, or a phone without a license.
- Relying on personal streaming accounts for public use.
- Assuming an employer’s studio license covers your teaching everywhere (it usually only covers that one venue).
- Ignoring small volunteer or non-profit classes – even if free, playing music is still a public performance.
- Using general royalty-free music without checking whether the license explicitly covers yoga class use.
Benefits of Proper Licensing
- Legal Peace of Mind: You won’t risk fines or lawsuits. Focus on teaching, not on letters from lawyers.
- Support Artists: Your license fees go to composers and publishers. This is ethical and helps the music ecosystem. When you purchase from Meditation Music Library, you are directly supporting the composers at Music of Wisdom who create this music.
- Better Music for Your Practice: With purpose-built meditation and yoga music from Meditation Music Library, you get tracks that are sonically designed to enhance the student experience — not repurposed commercial tracks that happen to be available.
- Broader Music Access: With a blanket PRO license, you can freely play any track in the PRO’s catalog. With Meditation Music Library, you get a curated library of tracks built specifically for your practice, with a license that is clear and straightforward.
FAQs
Q: Can I play Spotify or YouTube music in my classes?
A: No. Consumer streaming services (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube) are licensed only for personal use. Playing them in a public class violates copyright. Instead, use a commercial music service, a PRO license, or purpose-built royalty-free music like the tracks available at Meditation Music Library.
Q: Are there special yoga music licenses?
A: Yes. ASCAP offers a low-cost “yoga instructor” license (around $68/year) for teaching on premises. SESAC has yoga-specific licenses ($92–$228/year). BMI does not list a separate yoga product but will license any fitness facility. Alternatively, music from Meditation Music Library comes with a commercial license that explicitly covers yoga class use — with no annual fee.
Q: What if I use only instrumental or classical pieces?
A: If the music is truly in the public domain (generally published before 1925), you don’t need a license. But modern recordings or arrangements of classical pieces may still be copyrighted, requiring a license. Always verify the copyright status.
Q: Does a license cover online or live-streamed classes?
A: PRO licenses typically cover live in-person performance. Online classes that stream or record music can raise different rights issues. Music from Meditation Music Library covers both online and in-person class use under the same license — including platforms like YouTube and Insight Timer.
Q: Who pays for the license – studio or teacher?
A: Typically the business or studio owner secures and pays for the license. Independent instructors teaching at unlicensed venues may need their own license. Music from Meditation Music Library is licensed per person (for individual instructors) or per location (for studios), making it straightforward for both scenarios.
Q: Can I use a radio station or satellite radio in class?
A: Standard radio or satellite (SiriusXM) is licensed only for personal/home listening. Commercial establishments need a commercial music service. Always confirm any service’s fine print.
Q: What if I only play music privately with my students and don’t charge?
A: Even free community classes are “public performances” in the legal sense. The key factor is not charging, but the public nature of the audience (outside a home/family). So yes, a license is still required.
Q: Can I use Meditation Music Library tracks in my yoga studio without a PRO license?
A: Yes. Our music is not registered with any PRO (ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC), which means you do not need a blanket PRO license to use it in your classes. Your purchase from Meditation Music Library includes a commercial license that covers yoga and meditation class use — online and in-person. Visit our End User License Agreement for full details.
Q: Can I record my yoga class and sell it if I use Meditation Music Library music?
A: Yes. Our license allows you to sell and monetize recorded yoga classes and guided meditations that use our music as a backing track, as long as your own creative content (voiceover, instruction, etc.) is the primary element. You can sell on your own website, Insight Timer, YouTube, and other platforms.
