Imagine discovering that your favorite workout playlist could land you a massive $175,000 bill. That’s exactly what happened to a gym chain co-owned by ex-NRL star Beau Ryan, after it was found guilty of playing hit songs by artists like Avicii and Vengaboys without paying the required licensing fees. But here's where it gets controversial: while the gym chain was slapped with the fine, Beau Ryan himself was neither involved in nor aware of the copyright infringement. So, who’s really to blame? Let’s dive into the details.
On January 9, 2026, the federal court ruled that S1 Training gyms—a fitness brand that began in Sydney’s Coogee and later expanded across New South Wales and Victoria—had repeatedly violated copyright laws by using protected music in their classes between 2020 and 2024. The case was brought by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), the organization responsible for licensing the majority of the world’s commercially available music to businesses. Here’s the kicker: any business playing copyrighted music, whether from the radio or a streaming service, must obtain a ‘OneMusic’ license from APRA. These fees are then distributed as royalties to the rightful owners, ensuring artists get paid for their work.
The lawsuit targeted five companies and director Kieran Turner, but not Beau Ryan. Undercover officers attended S1 classes in Sydney (Coogee, Bondi Junction, Caringbah) and Melbourne’s Prahran, recording entire sessions as evidence. Social media videos from various branches also played a role, with the music recognition app Shazam used to identify tracks like Horny 98’ Radio Edit by Mousse T., We Like to Party by Vengaboys, and Wake Me Up by Avicii. And this is the part most people miss: APRA claimed it had reached out to Turner in May 2022, offering a license, but he allegedly ignored multiple attempts and failed to stop the unauthorized music use.
Turner argued that APRA couldn’t prove ownership of the copyrights and that the undercover recordings were illegal. He also claimed trainers had discretion to use music and that licensing was their responsibility. However, Judge Nicholas Manousaridis wasn’t convinced. He ruled that music was ‘an essential element’ of S1 classes, pointing out that Turner had arranged for sound equipment in the studios and that trainers were required to turn on music before classes. The court ordered S1 branches to pay damages covering unpaid license fees, interest, and an additional $3,000 for each of the 25 infringing tracks, totaling $175,398—a sum Turner was held personally liable for.
Here’s where it gets even more complicated: S1 Training, registered as SWEAT 1000, was founded by Turner in 2020. Beau Ryan joined as an ‘equity partner and ambassador’ in 2021, with his company REMJESS holding a 5% stake. While Ryan’s involvement was limited to promotion and expansion plans, the case raises questions about accountability in business partnerships. Most S1 gyms, except the Coogee branch, are now insolvent and have closed, leaving many wondering if the legal battle was the final straw.
Karen Holmes, director of APRA’s OneMusic, emphasized that taking businesses to court is a last resort. ‘We always give them a chance to do the right thing,’ she said. Meanwhile, S1 Training has remained silent despite multiple requests for comment. Beau Ryan, who hosts The Amazing Race and presents on Triple M radio, has also been contacted but has yet to respond.
So, what do you think? Was this a case of oversight, or deliberate disregard for the law? Should business partners like Beau Ryan be more involved in the operational details of their ventures? Let us know in the comments—this debate is far from over.
