- What happens once I have paid for TheMusicLicence?
Once you have paid for your licence or arranged a direct debit, you will be legally permitted to play or perform the vast majority of commercially released music from around the world, in accordance with the terms outlined in your tariffs and TheMusicLicence Terms & Conditions.
Your licence confirmation will be sent to you either via email or post (depending on your chosen communication method).
If you would like to change your preferred communication method, please speak to Client Services.
Speak to our friendly team today
0116 290 0525
(8am to 6pm Monday to Thursday and 8am to 3pm Friday)
- What does playing music ‘in public’ mean?
Under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, permission is needed from the relevant copyright holders – those who create, record and publish music – in order to play or perform music in public.
Broadly speaking, this includes any presentation of music outside of a domestic setting. For example, it will include using music in the following ways as part of your business or organisation (for the benefit of customers and/or employees): playing recorded music via any device including the radio, TV broadcasts such as sports or other audio-visual content containing music; or putting on live performances of music.
There are a range of tariffs to cover the different uses of music across various venue types. However, the use of this music will require permission from the copyright holders and TheMusicLicence will give you that permission, covering the vast majority of commercially released music.
- Does TheMusicLicence let me play non copyrighted music?
Under The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, permission is needed from the relevant copyright holders – those people who create music – in order to play or perform music in public
TheMusicLicence will cover you for the use of music played via the TV or radio, in accordance with the terms outlined in your tariffs and TheMusicLicence
If you do not think that the music you use is covered by PPL PRS you should ask for confirmation from your supplier. If you are unsure about whether you need TheMusicLicence for your music, please contact us.
- I already have a TV licence, why do I need TheMusicLicence?
It is easy to forget that music is used all the time within TV programmes, advertisements during commercial breaks and other broadcasts.
TheMusicLicence gives you permission to use the music contained in television programmes in public. A TV licence only allows you to receive the broadcast signal for the television. If you wish to use the TV in public, such as your business premises you will need a music licence.
- How do they distribute the royalties from my TV & radio music licence?
Our parent companies receive reporting and information on recorded music played by the TV broadcasters, radio stations, music suppliers and UK businesses that they license. In some cases this information is provided on a track-by-track basis, which is then reviewed against the data they hold to identify the applicable performers and recording rightsholders members whom they should pay.
Where it is not feasible to receive track-by-track usage information, such as from smaller TV and radio stations and businesses, they use a combination of methods to identify the music that has been played. This includes the use of data captured at the point of licensing and through market surveys (in relation to the types of music used by different types of customer).
- Where does the money go after I have paid my TV & radio music licence fee?
Your music licence fees are distributed to music creators via our parent companies PPL and PRS for Music.
- Who is PPL and PRS for Music?
PPL and PRS for Music are both collective management organisations. They issue licences and collect royalties for certain uses of copyright-protected music, on behalf of their many hundreds of thousands of members. They then distribute those royalties to members.
PPL represents record companies and performers for the use of recorded music, while PRS for Music represents songwriters, composers and music publishers for the use of musical compositions and lyrics (for both recorded music and live performances).
PPL and PRS for Music set up PPL PRS Ltd to offer a single joint music licence, on behalf of them both, for playing and performing music in public (see ‘What does playing music ‘in public’ mean?’).
- Why should I play the radio in my business?
Whatever your business – coffee shop, beauty or hair salon, cocktail bar or restaurant, clothing retailer or offices, factories and workplaces – playing music via the radio has the potential to enhance the experience you provide to your customers, visitors and employees.
The music you play can be as much a part of your brand image as your logo. It could be the deciding factor for a customer when choosing between you and your competitors!
- Who is PPL PRS Ltd?
PPL PRS Ltd was created to provide customers with a streamlined music licensing service – TheMusicLicence – with a single point of contact to make it easier to legally play and perform music in public. PPL PRS Ltd is equally owned by PPL and PRS for Music.
PPL PRS Ltd started trading in 2018. Prior to 2018, businesses and organisations would have had to purchase two separate licences from PPL and PRS for Music instead.
- Why should I play music in my business?
Whatever your business – coffee shop, beauty or hair salon, cocktail bar or restaurant, clothing retailer or offices, factories and workplaces - music has the potential to enhance the experience you provide to your customers, visitors and employees.
The music you play can be as much a part of your brand image as your logo. It could be the deciding factor for a customer when choosing between you and your competitors!
Purchasing TheMusicLicence for your music usage ensures you are legally entitled to play millions of commercially released songs and recordings from all over the world. And in doing so, you are also helping the writers and performers to be fairly rewarded for their work.
Get TheMusicLicence for your business or organisation and put the essential energy of music at the heart of your business!
Background Music for Businesses
Whatever your business – coffee shop, beauty or hair salon, cocktail bar, restaurant or clothing retailer - background music can enhance the experience you provide to your customers.
The background music you play can be as much a part of your brand image as your logo. It could be the deciding factor for a customer when choosing between you and your competitors!
What is background music?
Background music is recorded music that can help to enhance the atmosphere in a public place. Whether it’s a restaurant, bar, office, gym or retail store, it can improve the experience, influence emotions, and create a lasting impression in any business.
Not only this but playing music can set the tone of a businesses, make it stand out and help to reflect the culture, audience, and even time of day – especially when it’s the right kind of music.
TheMusicLicence issued by PPL PRS gives businesses the permission needed to play thousands of your favourite songs, from mainstream o grassroots artists from across the world.
This means that once you’ve obtained TheMusicLicence, all that’s left is to choose how you want to play music and what tunes to put on which is where background music suppliers can often help.
Background Music Suppliers
We understand the importance of having music that matches your brand, venue, customer and your staff – but where to start when creating the ultimate playlists?
No matter how niche your taste is, there are background music suppliers out there that can offer a vast library of music you can choose from to enhance your brand.
In order to legally supply background music to commercial customers, background music suppliers obtain permission from PPL and PRS for Music to allow them to copy music and supply suggested playlists to their customers.
Depending on what you want for your businesses’ background music, there are many suppliers that have been licensed by PPL and PRS for Music, see links below:
Branding your business with the right beats
There are many businesses who look to use background music as part of their brand, depending on certain factors; such as time of day, audience, special events or seasonality. For example, a bar might want to deliver a chilled vibe during the day and crank up the dance tunes in the evening. Whatever mood you’re looking for, music can help.
The vast majority of background music suppliers provide you with a consultation. This consultation may consist of an expert team of music developers who can review your business and support with selecting the best playlists to suit your business and brand to enhance the vibe you’re looking for.
Selecting the best songs for your brand and creating, changing and maintaining your playlists can take time, and sometimes you may be unsure where to start. However, there are background music suppliers, who can provide personalised playlists tailored especially for your business, boosting the atmosphere and helping to create a unique experience for your staff and customers alike!
How does it work?
When using a background music supplier to help curate your playlists for your business, it has the potential to save you time and effort- but how?
Your appointed music guru will assess your brand, customers and trends to come up with playlists for your business. There are a handful of background music suppliers who offer specialised software in the form of an app that allows you to shift the sound of your space based on factors such as time, day or holiday. So, when the atmosphere in your business is ready to change, so is the music.
Music suppliers can offer a scheduling tool that can be a great way to set the scene throughout the day, giving you the chance as the business owner to sit back and let the music do the talking!
Find out how Caffe Nero use music throughout the day to enhance the customer experience.
Many music suppliers offer additional features such as in-store messaging and advertisement tools; a feature that could allow you to announce discounts or special deals to your customers as well as making other store announcements. Some suppliers even have the ability to review the success of playlists and songs within your business allowing you to make sure you are choosing the best music and playlists for your customer and staff experience.
Do I need TheMusicLicence when I use a supplier?
When researching for a potential background music supplier from the approved lists above, you’ll see that you may require TheMusicLicence from PPL PRS. Under The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, permission is needed from the relevant copyright holders – those people who create music – to play or perform music in public.
Obtaining TheMusicLicence gives you this permission while helping you ensure that you have the right music for your business while supporting those who create the music you and your business enjoy.
Play background music in your business from just 36p* per day!
An office or workplace could play music from
A retail premises could play music from
A salon could play music from as little as
*Cost example correct as of December 2024
Background Music FAQs
Get a quote
Purchasing TheMusicLicence for your background music usage ensures you are legally entitled to play millions of tracks by original artists from all over the world. And in doing so, you are also helping the writers and performers of the music you play to continue to produce their work and be fairly rewarded.
Get TheMusicLicence for your business or organisation for your background music and put the essential energy of music at the heart of your business!
To get your licence, simply complete our Get TheMusicLicence Form and a member of our Music Licensing Team will contact you and provide a bespoke quote and arrange your licence for the background music in your business or organisation.
