Yoga studios cannot legally use Spotify or Apple Music during classes. Both are licensed for personal, non-commercial use only. Studios need a public performance license from a PRO like ASCAP or BMI, or a background music provider built for businesses.
Yoga studios need the right music for every class. But most streaming apps do not give studios legal permission to play music during classes or events. This creates a licensing problem many studio owners do not know about until it is too late.
This guide covers legal music for yoga classes, playlist ideas for different class types, and how licensing works for studios. It also links to our research on music licensing trends, so you can see how these rules are changing.
Why Spotify and Apple Music for Yoga Class Playlists Don't Work
Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music are personal streaming services. There is no Spotify for Business, Apple Music for Business or Amazon Music for Business. Their terms of service only cover private, non-commercial listening. A yoga studio is a business. Playing music during a class, even quietly in the background, counts as a “public performance” under U.S. copyright law.
Public performance rights are separate from a personal subscription. A yoga studio needs its own commercial license to play copyrighted music legally, no matter which app or device is used. Studios that skip this step risk the fines businesses face for unlicensed music. Performance rights organizations like ASCAP and BMI actively track venues that play music without a license.
The good news: legal music for yoga is easy to access. Several providers build background music catalogs specifically for businesses, so studios do not have to build a licensing structure from scratch.
Make an informed choice! Compare music providers for your business on our Compare Page—free and simple.
How Licensing Works for Music for Yoga Studios
Yoga studios use music in more than one way, and each way can carry its own licensing requirement. A studio might play a curated playlist during class, bring in a live musician for a sound bath or kirtan session, or have an instructor lead chanting as part of the practice.
Recorded background music, whether played from a speaker system or a business streaming service, needs a public performance license from the relevant PROs. Live music, even something as simple as one guitarist during savasana, needs its own performance license too. If a visiting artist leads a paid workshop with recorded backing tracks, that adds another layer of rights to consider.
Understanding how music licensing works for small businesses helps studio owners avoid surprises. The type of music, how it’s delivered, and how many locations a studio has can all affect what licensing is required.
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Best Music for Yoga by Class Type
Not every yoga class calls for the same sound. Here is what tends to work well for different formats, with a quick read on how much sound each style typically calls for.
Upbeat & energetic
Vinyasa and Power Yoga
These faster paced classes benefit from steady, rhythmic tracks that match the pace of sun salutations and flowing sequences. Instrumental world music, deep house, and ambient electronic tracks with a consistent beat work well. Avoid songs with sudden tempo changes or heavy vocals, since these can pull attention away from breath and movement.
Quiet & steady
Hatha Yoga
Hatha sits between a flowing class and a fully restorative one, so the pace is slower and more deliberate. Simple instrumental tracks with a steady, unhurried tempo give students room to hold poses without feeling rushed.
Near silent
Ashtanga Yoga
Ashtanga follows a set, athletic sequence and is traditionally practiced in near silence, since the focus stays on breath and a fixed pose order. When music is used at all, subtle rhythmic instrumental tracks that stay in the background tend to fit best.
Moderate & rhythmic
Kundalini Yoga
Kundalini classes often include chanting, mantra repetition, and rhythmic breathwork known as kriyas. Unlike most other styles, music here is often part of the practice itself, with live or recorded kirtan music, harmonium, and chant based tracks playing a central role rather than a background one.
Near silent
Hot Yoga and Bikram
The heat and intensity of a hot yoga room already demands a lot of focus, so many instructors skip music entirely to preserve the pose sequencing and breath work. If music is used, sparse ambient tracks or light percussion without lyrics work well without competing for attention.
Quiet & steady
Restorative and Yin Yoga
Slow, sustained poses need music that supports stillness. Ambient soundscapes, soft piano, and drone based tracks with long, sustained tones help students settle into longer holds without distraction.
Near silent
Prenatal Yoga
Prenatal classes call for gentle, predictable music with no sudden shifts in volume or tempo. Soft acoustic or ambient tracks, often even quieter than a typical restorative playlist, help keep the room calm and steady.
Near silent
Meditation and Savasana
The final rest of a class calls for the quietest, simplest sound. Nature sounds, singing bowls, and minimal ambient tones work best here. Silence, or near silence, is often the right choice too.
Near silent
Yoga Nidra
Yoga Nidra is a guided meditation practiced lying down, so the music needs to stay almost entirely in the background. A single sustained drone, singing bowl tone, or soft binaural track works better than anything with a melody or beat.
Quiet & steady
Aerial Yoga
Poses using a hammock or sling give aerial classes a floating, suspended feel. Ambient electronic or ethereal tracks with a little more texture than standard restorative music tend to match the movement well.
Upbeat & energetic
Acro Yoga
Acro yoga pairs partner based poses with light acrobatics, so the mood tends to be playful and social. Upbeat instrumental tracks with a steady, predictable rhythm help partners time transitions together, similar to a Vinyasa playlist but with a bit more build and release.
Quiet & steady
Chair Yoga and Senior Yoga
This audience often responds better to calm, familiar, melodic instrumental music rather than abstract ambient tracks. Gentle, accessible music helps set a relaxed tone without feeling clinical or overly minimal.
Upbeat & energetic
Kids Yoga
Playful, upbeat instrumental tracks keep energy high without lyrics that might distract younger students. Simple, percussive rhythms also help kids follow movement cues.
Performance Rights Organizations for Yoga Studios
FAQ: Music for Yoga Classes
Q: Can I play Spotify or Apple Music in my yoga studio?
A: No. Spotify and Apple Music are licensed for personal, non-commercial use only. Playing them in a yoga studio, even as background music, is a public performance under U.S. copyright law and requires separate business licensing.
Q: What counts as a public performance in a yoga studio?
A: A public performance happens whenever copyrighted music is played somewhere other than a private home, including studios, gyms, and other business spaces. According to ASCAP, a public performance is one that occurs in a place open to the public, or in a place where a group outside a normal circle of family and social acquaintances gathers.
Q: Do I need a license if I only play music during a few classes a day?
A: Yes. Licensing requirements are based on whether music is performed publicly, not on how many hours per day it plays.
Q: Can I use royalty free music instead to avoid PRO licensing?
A: Some royalty free or production music libraries are pre-cleared for commercial use, which can reduce or remove the need for a separate PRO license. Always confirm the specific license terms before use, since “royalty free” does not always mean fully cleared for public performance.
Q: What happens if my studio gets caught playing unlicensed music?
A: PROs can pursue legal action and fines against businesses that play music without a license. Costs vary by case, so check the fines businesses face for unlicensed music for more detail on what is at stake.
Q: Do I need more than one PRO license for a single playlist?
A: Often, yes. A single playlist can include songs from different songwriters represented by different PROs, so a studio may need coverage from ASCAP, BMI, and other organizations to stay fully licensed. Legal music doesn’t have to slow your studio down. You can compare all providers side-by-side to find one that fits your class schedule, or explore our research on music licensing trends to stay ahead of changes in this space.
Ready to choose? See the best music providers for your business on our Compare Page—it's free and easy!
By John Boyle
John is a music for business expert and the founder of MusicforBusinessFinder.com which has been featured on BigIdeasforSmallBusiness.com, Noobpreneur and YFS Magazine. He focuses on helping small business owners navigate the confusing world of commercial music licensing, improve sales, and protect their businesses. By providing clear, independent analysis of top audio platforms, he ensures owners can make informed choices with confidence. He also loves rooting for the Mariners and his daughter’s soccer team.