Requires massages for the audience (5)
I believe the answer is:
needs
'requires' is the definition.
('need' can be a synonym of 'require')
'massages for the audience' is the wordplay.
'massages' becomes 'kneads' ('knead' can be a synonym of 'massage').
'for the audience' shows a homophone (sound like).
'kneads' is a homophone of 'NEEDS'.
(Other definitions for needs that I've seen before include "Is desperate for" , "Necessities" , "Requires, is in want of" , "Demands" , "necessity once" .)