Short answer: No — a gym can’t legally use a regular Spotify or Apple Music (or other consumer streaming) account to play music for customers. Those consumer subscriptions are licensed for personal, non‑commercial use only, and playing music in a public/commercial place requires separate public‑performance licensing (or a business‑licensed music service). (support.spotify.com)

What that means in practice

• Spotify / Apple Music consumer accounts: Terms explicitly limit the service to personal, non‑commercial use, so using them to provide music in a gym (where members/customers hear it) violates the terms and does not clear the copyright owners’ public‑performance rights. (support.spotify.com)
• Public performance rights (songwriters/publishers): In the U.S. you (the business) generally must obtain a public‑performance (blanket) license from the performing‑rights organizations such as ASCAP, BMI, SESAC and Global Music Rights to cover songs played in your facility. Many gyms buy annual/blanket licenses. (bmi.com)
• Sound recordings / digital transmissions: There’s a separate, more technical set of rules for digital webcasting and some streaming services (SoundExchange and the CRB rules). Business use of consumer streams still won’t relieve you of the need for the appropriate public‑performance or service‑specific licenses. (soundexchange.com)

Practical options for gyms

• Get the PRO licenses direct (ASCAP/BMI/SESAC/GMR) — many businesses purchase blanket licenses. (bmi.com)
• Use a music‑for‑business provider (these services are licensed for commercial use and often bundle the needed rights). Examples: Soundtrack/SoundMachine/Jukeboxy/Pandora Cloud/other commercial providers. They’re built to be legal for retail, gyms, studios, etc. (sound-machine.com)
• For instructor‑led classes: check whether your facility’s blanket license covers fitness classes (some venues must obtain additional fitness/class licenses or use fitness‑specific music programs). (issaonline.com)

Risks if you don’t license correctly

• PROs actively enforce licensing; damages/penalties can be substantial (statutory ranges and lawsuits have occurred against businesses that play unlicensed music). Using consumer subscriptions in public can trigger cease‑and‑desist letters, fines or litigation. (cloudcovermusic.com)

If you want one quick next step: contact BMI/ASCAP/SESAC (or a reputable business‑music provider) and tell them you run a gym — they can tell you what license(s) you need and give a price estimate. (bmi.com)

Would you like links to specific business music providers or the ASCAP/BMI/SESAC licensing pages?