Music Licences

If you play recorded music in a public place then two licences are required by law under the 1988 Copyright Act. This law covers every type of music and technology, old and new, including FM and DAB radio, TV, music videos, CDs, internet streaming, satellite broadcasts, iPods and MP3 players.

The law was established to ensure that the creators and owners of music (writers, composers, performers, record labels and publishers) would be compensated when their music is performed or played in public.

PPL and PRS for Music exist to enable more efficient approval for the playing of music in a public place (you can go to just two places rather than needing to secure the permission of every artist, songwriter, label and publisher involved in every song you play!) Both organisations are run on a not-for-profit basis and the money they collect goes back to the performers and music creators respectively. PPL collects royalties on behalf of music performers and record companies while PRS for Music collects royalties on behalf of the songwriters and publishers.

The type of music licence you require and the fee (or tariff) is determined by law although where possible tariff rates are agreed between the music licensing organisations and the relevant national trade associations or representative bodies.

How to determine which music licence is appropriate? The following factors will normally be taken into account:

• The type of business where music is to be used
• The type of premises in which music is to be played
• The size of premises and or the number of people who will hear the music
• The nature and extent to which music is to be used
• The number of premises within a group

In order to ensure each business pays an appropriate fee there are specific licences for shops, hairdressers, beauty salons, sporting stadia, exhibitions, pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels as well as sites such as offices, factories, warehouses and doctors’ and dentists’ waiting rooms.

Staff from both organisations are happy to help you through the process and provide you with all the necessary information.

To find out more about…
… PPL Licensing click here or call 020 7534 1070
… PRS for Music Licensing click here, or call 0800 068 4828
There is a wealth of evidence available on the benefits of music on consumer demand available.