- Do we still need a licence if we are a registered charity?Yes. Even if your organisation is a registered charity, you may still need TheMusicLicence if music is used in your venue. The requirement is based on whether music is used in public, not the profit status of the organisation.
- Who is responsible for the licence: the hall or the person hiring it?In most cases, the venue is responsible for holding TheMusicLicence, as music is being played on the premises. However, more information on who is responsible for TheMusicLicence can be found in the table above.
- Does one licence cover both the village hall and the outdoor grounds?Outside ground can be included as a metric for pricing if the hirer (and income from them) includes use of both the building and outdoor grounds.
- What is ‘defined income’ and how does it affect our price?Defined income is the figure from the last available public annual accounts (i.e. full 12 months) of the voluntary organisation, trust, charity, institute or other body operating the community building. This will be for the latest tax year (running from April to March).
- Do we need a licence to just play the radio or TV in the background?Yes. Playing music from the radio, watching television, or using any streaming service in a community building usually requires TheMusicLicence because the music is being played to the public, even if it’s only for background ambience. Personal subscriptions and broadcast licences do not cover public performance rights.
- We only have one event a year. Can we get a ‘one-off’ licence?Due to the way price is calculated, if a venue holds fewer events (i.e. obtains less income from hirers), the price of the licence will reflect this.
Community Building Music Licence
Music in community buildings (run by voluntary organisations) can be used for different events and activities.
Whether you’re using music at functions in community centres, for entertainment purposes in village halls, or as a part of exercise classes in a parish hall, you’ll usually need a music licence for your community building.
By obtaining TheMusicLicence, you’ll be able to play commercially released music legally in your community building and enjoy its benefits whilst ensure that its creators are fairly rewarded for their work.
What constitutes as a “Community Building”?
If the primary purpose of your premises is to hire out the whole venue or individual rooms to hirers, and you operate as a voluntary organisation, then you would be considered as a community building.
This can include:
- Village halls
- Community centres
- Parish halls
- Community hubs
- Activity centres
Does my Community Building need a Music Licence?
You usually need TheMusicLicence if music is played in public at your venue. This includes the following types of music usage:
- Background music via radio, televisions/TVs, CDs, digital devices (such as MP3 players, computers, tablets) and smart speakers.
- Background music during activities such as coffee mornings, tea dances, neighbourhood meetings, community meals, and quiz events.
- Entertainment, such as live music or a DJ, at events such as community gatherings, open mic nights, talent shows, discos/silent discos, and local band concerts/live music events.
- Exercise and dance classes, such as Zumba, salsa, ballroom dancing or aerobics. If you are an independent instructor who holds classes at a community building or multiple community buildings, please view our fitness instructor page.
How is the cost calculated?
The cost of TheMusicLicence varies depending on the specific characteristics of each community building, so please contact us for a quote.
TheMusicLicence for a community building is calculated using the defined annual income, usually from the latest annual accounts of the voluntary organisation, association, trust, charity, institute or other body operating the community building.
The defined annual income should include the following:
- Door takings and similar takings of the host voluntary organisation
- Hiring charges received from hirers of the building (but not the door takings of those hirers if retained by them)
- Subscriptions
- The net contribution from food and bar takings where they accrue to the voluntary organisation (i.e. the profit from food & drink)
The defined annual income should not include:
- Value Added Tax (VAT)
- Capital grants
- Revenue grants
- Interest from accounts
- Gifts and donations whether specified by the donor for a particular purpose.
- Income from other owned assets unrelated to the community building itself
- Proceeds from the sale of donated goods
- Contracts for the delivery of public services, particularly where such income has replaced a grant
The defined annual income is used to determine the annual cost of TheMusicLicence, which will usually equate to 2% of the defined annual income, with 1% for each component of TheMusicLicence (1% for PRS for Music and 1% for PPL).
Who is responsible for TheMusicLicence in your community building?
| Hiring purpose | TheMusicLicence required? | Who is responsible? |
|---|---|---|
|
Fitness and dance classes |
Yes |
|
|
Events that use live music or specially featured entertainment such as a DJ |
Yes |
Individual(s), voluntary organisation, association, trust, charity, institute or other body operating the community building. |
|
Games and quiz nights |
Yes (if music is used) |
Individual(s), voluntary organisation, association, trust, charity, institute or other body operating the community building. |
|
Arts, crafts & skills workshops |
Yes (if music is used) |
Individual(s), voluntary organisation, association, trust, charity, institute or other body operating the community building. |
|
Talent shows |
Yes (if music is used/performed) |
Individual(s), voluntary organisation, association, trust, charity, institute or other body operating the community building. |
|
Community events |
Yes (if music is used/featured/performed) |
Individual(s), voluntary organisation, association, trust, charity, institute or other body operating the community building. |
Qualification Checklist
The venue must be available for hire, for any form of usage, without discrimination
The primary purpose of the venue must be to hire the venue/ rooms
Venue is operated by a voluntary organisation
If all three criteria are met, the Community Buildings tariff will apply to your TheMusicLicence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get a quote
If you’ve got all your information ready, please contact us or complete our Get TheMusicLicence form to arrange a quote.
Call us on 0116 290 0525
(8am-6pm, Monday-Friday)
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Thinking about playing music in your community building 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 to 6pm Monday to Thursday and 8am to 3pm Friday)
Alternatively you can complete the online form and an adviser will be in touch.