OneMusic representative Sarah Dore met with about 15 to 20 business owners and operators during her visit, along with local council staff, as part of efforts to improve understanding of licensing requirements.
Interest came from a broad mix of industries, including hospitality, fitness, retail and the arts.
Ms Dore said one of the most common questions from business owners was why they had not heard about licensing requirements before.
“This is why we are out helping business owners have a better understanding that a music licence is something a business needs to have if they would like to play music,” she said.
A key misunderstanding centred on the use of streaming services.
“Paying for Spotify is often seen as enough, but personal streaming services are generally for domestic use only and don’t cover commercial settings,” Ms Dore said.
Many business owners were also surprised to see a representative visiting the region in-person.
“People were really grateful I had made the trip and taken the time to meet with them and go through their questions over a cuppa,” she said.
Ms Dore said engaging directly with regional communities was particularly important.
“Regional communities are very community minded and supportive of local music creators,” she said.
“Once people understand that licensing also supports songwriters and artists, they are happy to get on board.”
Hundreds of businesses across the region already hold a OneMusic licence, which covers the majority of commercially released music worldwide and ensures compliance with copyright obligations.
The visit formed part of a broader tour across regional centres including Mildura, Swan Hill and Wangaratta.
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