Using Spotify Player API for a Jukebox Rental - Is It Allowed?

[leonschwanitz]

Hi everyone,

I’m planning to build a jukebox system where users can select the next song using their own Spotify Premium accounts. The jukebox would use the Spotify Player API to play music for private parties, and users could rent it for their private events.

The issue is that Spotify’s terms mention that commercial use is not allowed. Since this would be a rental service for private parties, I’m unsure if it complies with their terms.

Has anyone had experience with this or can clarify whether this would be allowed under Spotify’s terms?

Thanks in advance!

[Joopheuvel]

Hi. I am assuming this is allowed. I have developed this already with a wallboxplayer and API. See website www.wallboxplayer.com. was tricky but works well. Joop van den Heuvel.

[Ximzend]

Hi @leonschwanitz 

Thank you for posting this in the Spotify Community, and Welcome!

I understand you are planning a jukebox system that uses Spotify’s Player API for private events. I've looked into how this might fit with Spotify’s guidelines. In essence, Spotify’s rules are designed for personal, non-commercial use, and streaming applications like a jukebox fall under these restrictions. Since your system would trigger music playback using a Premium account and be rented out for events, it could be classified as a Streaming SDA—a type of application where commercial use, such as charging for access, is generally not allowed. Even though users would be using their own Premium accounts to stream, the fact that the service is rented out for private parties makes it a commercial venture in this context.

The guidelines emphasize that any application offering streaming features should not be used to generate revenue by charging a fee, as Spotify is intended for individual, non-commercial use only. Given that the service would involve renting out the jukebox for events, it would likely fall into a category that violates these restrictions. In short, the nature of the setup—providing a streaming service as a paid rental—runs contrary to Spotify’s intended use, and this is something to consider carefully when planning your project.

I hope this answers your question. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask.

[Joopheuvel]

Hi.

Not sure about the other person, but my application is simply a remote control of people's (and my own) Spotify premium account. No rental or commercial aspects involved. The vintage wallbox acts as a remote control using their api, nothing more ore less. Thanks for clarifying.

[Ximzend]

@Joopheuvel did you went through the Commercial Hardware page to apply for a license?

[Joopheuvel]

Hi

Please help me understand. I am not selling integrated SW or HW. Customers with premium use their own devices and hardware to use the SDK with tokens and Api's. It is all on their own platforms. They use  the developed and adopted GitHub arduino code to send Api's to their devices. What would they need to allow that usage?

Thanks

[Ximzend]

Hey @leonschwanitz,

I just got a reply back from the Spotify team, and they recommended to just apply for a quota extension.

They did not answer my question if it is allowed what @Joopheuvel is doing.

However, they did share this article that could be helpful for you both.

Cheers!

Additional useful links: Spotify Developer Terms & Developer Policy

[canovich]

In the link you shared, especially at that part, for app to be streaming SDA it should include these. But we are just adding song to queue(and we are monetizing of course). Am i missing something? 

On the other hand there is an article(https://developer.spotify.com/policy#iii-some-prohibited-applications) that says this:

I am really really confused right now.