Radio & TV Licences for Business

Flexible, adaptable, inclusive. Listener habits may have changed but the radio has evolved with them.

Playing music via the radio in your business has never been easier. Whether you use laptops, smartphones, smart speakers, portable DAB/FM radios, TV’s, or online services; your accessibility to national, local and commercial stations are usually just a click away.

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Playing Radio & TV at work

Playing the radio in your business has benefited both customers and staff since it was first introduced to factory workers in 1940. Now offering 24-hour auditory entertainment and typically having a station for every preference, ranging from national, regional, local, internet radio, and so much more; our listening habits and taste in music may have evolved but so has the radio.

Having access to the latest chart music or timeless classics could be essential in creating an environment your customers and staff can immerse themselves in. Furthermore, playing the radio is an effective way you could enhance your atmosphere, keep customers up to date with current affairs and have genre specific playlists curated for your customers’ taste.

You have a wide variety of choice in your TV and radio station selection, allowing for flexibility. Choose the station or channel that best fits your brand and select which platform is best suited to your business. By determining which station’s tone and style best reflects your brand and what device is most applicable to your business, you could create a space which is as much known for its great atmosphere as it is for its excellent services and products.

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TheMusicLicence allows you to legally play the radio at work and enjoy the benefits of playing music whilst ensuring its creators are fairly rewarded. 

So, do you need a licence to play the radio in your business? The answer is yes and here’s why.

Do I need a licence to listen to the radio & TV?

You will need a music licence for the radio, in the UK, if you are playing the radio in your business. Whether this be from internet radio usage or from other devices. 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.  Playing the radio in your business is classed as a public performance whether this is for your customers, your staff or both.

If you are playing the radio, or other channels from a TV in your business, a TV licence allows you to receive the broadcast signal to the television within your business. However, it does not give you permission to play or perform the music within the broadcast. TheMusicLicence gives you that permission, for virtually all commercially released music available.

How much does it cost?

If you are playing the radio 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 the TV or radio in your business from just 33p* per day!

Play the radio in your office

From as little as...
33
p
per day
  •  

Play the radio in shops & stores

From as little as...
59
p
per day
  •  

Play the radio in your salon

From as little as...
96
p
per day
  •  

Radio & TV FAQs

  • 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

    0800 0720 808

    (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.

Get a quote

Ready to tune into the right frequency and start using the radio in your business?

Please contact us or complete our Get TheMusicLicence form to arrange a quote.

Call us on 0116 290 0525

(8am-6pm, Monday-Friday)

Related articles

Thinking about playing the radio or TV in your business and want to know more?

What is TheMusicLicence?

What is TheMusicLicence

TheMusicLicenceallows you to legally play music for employees or customers in your business through the radio, TV, other digital devices and live performances.
Learn more

Do I need a music licence?

Do I need a music licence?

If you use, play or perform music in your business or organisation, the chances are you need a music licence.
Learn more

Where does my money go?

Where does my money go?

After our business costs, music licence fees are distributed to all those involved in making music via our parent companies PPL and PRS for Music.
Learn more

How do I get TheMusicLicence?

Call us on 0116 290 0525

(8am-6pm, Monday-Friday)

Alternatively you can complete the online form and an adviser will be in touch.