Can You Use Spotify Playlists in Baby Classes? Here’s What You Need to Know

Do you remember Cassette tapes?  MiniDisks?  CD's?  

Over the last 20 + years that I've been running classes the music industry has changed beyond belief and it's still bit of a pinch me moment that I can carry entire playlists onto my phone and stream music through a tiny Bluetooth speaker!

But, if you've assumed you can simply use Spotify (or similar streaming services) to build and play your lovely music playlists in your classes, stop.  Before you press play, it's crucial you understand the legal implications of using those Spotify playlists in a commercial setting ie your classes

Why you can't use Spotify in Baby Classes

Spotify, Apple Music and other streaming platforms are licensed for personal use only. When you sign up for Spotify, you agree to their terms and conditions, which explicitly state that the service is for non-commercial, personal use.

Here’s why that matters

1. Licensing Agreements: Spotify has licensing agreements with record labels and artists that cover personal use only. Commercial use ie a paid class requires a different type of licensing, which Spotify does not provide.

2. Royalty Payments: Artists and rights holders are compensated differently when their music is used commercially. Personal streaming services don't pay royalties for business use meaning the creators aren’t being fairly paid when you use their music without permission in your classes

3. Copyright Law: Playing music in a commercial setting without the appropriate licenses is a violation of copyright law. In the UK that can result in hefty fines and legal action against your business.

If you’re new to running classes, my post on How Much Does It Cost to Start Baby Classes  covers all the essential legal and practical costs — from insurance to music licences — so you can plan with confidence.

So what can you do instead?

If you don't own your own music (and this means music you 100% own, your creative content that you have paid to have recorded just for you) you've got a few perfectly legal (and creative) options

• Licence Free Music
  • Use platforms like ichillmusic that sell royalty free, licence free music suitable for classes and video content 
• BuyYour Music Legally
  • Buy music via iTunes or Amazon Music but you'll still need a valid licence from PPL/PRS to legally play that music in your classes
• Use Spotify's Commercial Alternative
  • Spotify Business Soundtrackyourbusiness costs around £35 per month but you still need The Music Licence from PPL/PRS
• Get Custom Music Created
  • Commission bespoke music for your brand.  It's a bigger investment upfront but 100% legal and uniquely yours, I did this
• Train with The Baby Class Expert
  • When you train with me through The Baby Class Blueprint , you’ll receive access to 35 original MP4 tracks created specifically for baby development classes and not available on any streaming services. You can use these freely in your classes and no additional licences required. 

I know this topic can feel confusing (and expensive), but it’s so important to get right, both ethically and legally.

As a music creator who’s had her work used without permission, this is an issue I’m deeply passionate about. It’s why none of my music is available on public streaming services, and why I teach every Blueprint student to build a business rooted in integrity and professionalism.

If you want to make sure every part of your business — from music to marketing — is legally sound and stress-free, that’s exactly what I teach inside The Baby Class Blueprint