- 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 our Customer Services Team.
Speak to our friendly team today
(8am–6pm, Monday–Friday)
- I am a new customer and would like to get TheMusicLicence
Ready to play music? Great!
Now all we need are some details from you so we can get in touch, set up TheMusicLicence and have you playing music in no time.
- 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 CDs, MP3, vinyl, tape and other records; showing TV broadcasts 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 usually 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.
Background Music for Businesses
Whatever your business – coffee shop, beauty or hair salon, cocktail bar or restaurant, clothing retailer - background music can enhance the experience you provide to your customer.
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!
The power of background music
Pick your playlist for your background music wisely, consider your customer base, the time of day, the weather outside – the right playlist could even help you promote your products or services.
Seasonal music doesn’t just apply to the Festive season – think of summer and the music that symbolises that time of year – your background music choices can create that ‘feel good’ mood and encourage customers to stay, and return!
How much does it cost?
If you are playing background music in the UK the cost of a music licence varies. Things like the size of a business are measured in different ways under different tariffs, depending on what is appropriate for each business type.
So, to calculate your fee, we may need you to provide information such as square meterage, number of employees, or venue capacity. We may also need to know the types of devices you use to play recorded music, and information about any live performances of music.
Play background music in your business from just 33p* per day!
An office or workplace could play music from
A retail premise could play music from
A salon could play music from as little as
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.
