From perfecting form in class to end of year performances, music is there every step of the way.
Notice: Following a 2025 consultation with the Dance sector, the previous Dance Instructors Licence was updated to the new Dance Schools and Instructors music licence, which took effect from 1 February 2026.
You can read about the consultation here.
From perfecting form in class, to end-of-year performances, music is there every step of the way.
Because music plays such a central role in dance, it's important that dance schools have the right permissions to use it.
With a OneMusic licence, you’ll have the legal permission to use virtually all commercially released music from New Zealand and around the world - supporting the people who create and own the music you enjoy.
There are different types of music licences for dance, covering the various ways music can be used.
To find the right Music Cover, click 'GET A LICENCE' and select Dance from the Industry dropdown followed by the Business Type that best suits your Dance offering.
If you’d prefer to set up your Music Licence via pdf, please download via the link below, complete and return to: [email protected]
Download a Dance Instruction Music Licence Agreement
OneMusic is an official partner of Dance Aotearoa New Zealand - the national support organisation for dance in Aotearoa. Visit the DANZ website for more information.
Note on Music Used in Dance School Events
A Dance School Event is any event, recital and/or performance where the entry fee is less than $35 and excludes ballets and performances in a Dramatic Context.
Concert and Dramatic Context licences grant dance schools permission to play music as a part of end of year (or similar) concerts or theatrical performances. Licences for concerts and theatrical performances are administered through APRA AMCOS and Recorded Music New Zealand.
Under New Zealand law you need permission from music creators to use their music in your business.
This permission is required regardless of how you play music – whether you play the radio, TV, CDs, or use digital music services such as Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube. Simply buying music or paying for a subscription service does not give you the permission you need to play music in a business setting. Your OneMusic licence gives you permission to play essentially all commercially released music from here and around the world.
All businesses that play music, from cafes, bars and nightclubs to retail stores, gyms, hairdressers and pharmacies, need permission from music creators to play their music.
In most cases the music included with dance syllabi requires a licence. However if you feel your music is the exception, please contact us.
Yes it is. The Copyright Act clearly establishes these public performance rights. The Copyright Act also outlines the penalties for anyone in breach of the Act.
The OneMusic licence covers you for the use of our music in your business regardless of the source – whether it’s from radio, CDs, or a digital music service.
You should be aware that a OneMusic licence, even when it includes Digital Delivery only gives you permission to use our music in your business. It does not override the Terms of Use for the personal digital music service, nor does it give you permission to use that particular digital music service for a commercial purpose – that permission can only come from the owners of that digital music service.
Even with our licence, the use of digital music services by you in your business may be in breach of the terms and conditions of your end user agreement with that service. You should check with your service provider.
OneMusic is a joint licensing initiative between APRA AMCOS and Recorded Music NZ. Many music creators around the world earn an income by granting organisations, like ours, the right to collect and pay their royalties.
OneMusic simplifies the licensing process and allows music users to meet their copyright obligations to play our music in their business.
When you hear about music royalties, that’s what we do.
Your OneMusic licence fee is distributed by APRA AMCOS and Recorded Music NZ, who are the companies behind OneMusic. Each organisation has a commitment to their music creators and their own distribution policies.
Every month over 330 million lines of music data is analysed from digital music services, background music suppliers, radio stations, television stations, live performers and more. After minimal administration costs all money collected is paid to our local and international music creators – songwriters, composers, publishers, recording artists and record labels.
Find out more from APRA AMCOS and Recorded Music NZ.
Want to know more? Read the full FAQs here, or call us on 0800 800 663 – we’re here to help
