Fitness & Dance Music Licence

Pump up the jam and legally play music in your gym, fitness or dance business with TheMusicLicence.

Whether you’re playing background music in your gym, in the café or reception areas or using it in exercise and dance classes, you’ll usually need a music licence from PPL PRS to play or perform music in your venue.

In order to play or perform music in public within your gym, fitness and dance classes you may need a music licence. This ensures permission is granted from the relevant copyright holders in relation to the vast majority of commercially available music.

By obtaining TheMusicLicence you’ll be able to play PRS for Music and PPL music legally and enjoy its benefits whilst ensuring that its creators are fairly rewarded for their work.

TML_Powered_Logo_RGB_White

Do I need a music licence for my fitness & dance studio?

You might not realise it but music is protected by copyright, and businesses and organisations have to get permission from the music creators to play or perform their works in public.

A music licence allows you to legally play music for customers and employees in your gym and fitness and dance studio’s through the radio, TV and other digital devices.

Once you have purchased TheMusicLicence for your gym, fitness centre and dance classes you will be legally licensed to play or perform music to your employees, customers and members in public.

music in gyms

Playing music in your gym, fitness and dance studio

Music can be an important part of day-to-day life for many people, especially while they exercise or even during relaxation. Playing music for your customers and members could create a more upbeat and energetic environment and could help to keep staff positive, engaged and focused.

It could help to:

Increase…

  • Atmosphere
  • Customer experience
  • Focus and motivation
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Brand identity

Music & customer experience

Your customers and members come to your gym, fitness centre, studio or dances classes not just to get in shape but for the overall experience as well.

Whether they are enjoying a leisurely coffee or having a good gym session, you want your customers and members to be positive, upbeat and enjoy their experience so they return time and time again.

Playing music in your gym could help to ensure your business has a fresh and vibrant feel and provide a more entertaining and engaging atmosphere.

Music “improves the atmosphere” and “improves customer experience”.
Énergie Fitness

57% of UK residents that we surveyed agree that playing popular, well-known music in workout areas, cafés and communal spaces creates a better atmosphere than playing royalty free music.***

***Survey conducted via Attest with 250 UK participants November 2022

Music & employee engagement

As part of the health and wellness industry, you want your employees to feel valued and to experience the same feel-good sensation that your customers and members have when they visit your gym or fitness centre.

Music has the power to create an upbeat environment and could establish a more friendly and welcoming atmosphere. As a result, music can drive collaboration with colleagues and interaction with customers and members, potentially leading to improved levels of service and a better customer experience overall.

In addition, when it comes to motivating your customers and members in a gym setting, your employees’ attitude and performance are crucial. Playing music can give an enjoyable experience for your staff and trainers and will consequently influence your customers and members.

88.3% of UK businesses that we surveyed said that music is enjoyable to staff and customers**

**Research performed by PPL PRS in relation to TheMusicLicence, February – March 2020. Figures based on a group of 73 participants.

Music & business identity

Like your gym, fitness centre or dance studio, music is unique. A tailored soundtrack could help to give your business an identity, define your brand and help to make your establishment stand out.
Music is the absolute soul of my Zumba business! Without it, I’d have no class!
Zumba with Laura

Whether you’re in the café or the fitness studio, music can help  set the tone. Playing music could help to make your gym unique, and could be just as important to your individuality as your facilities and classes. Whatever your business identity, carefully selected music could help to set the right kind of mood, motivate your customers and members and compliment your classes and facilities.

53.4% of UK business that we surveyed agreed that music is an important part of their brand and helps to keep their customers loyal**

**Research performed by PPL PRS in relation to TheMusicLicence, February – March 2020. Figures based on a group of 73 participants.

Music & statistics

According to our surveys of UK residents and businesses:

88.3%

said that music is enjoyable to staff and customers**

53.4%

agreed that music is an important part of their brand and helps to keep their customers loyal**

93%

agreed that music has a positive effect on their business**

76.5%

of people listen to music whilst at the gym***

57%

agree playing popular, well-known music in workout areas, cafes and communal spaces creates a better atmosphere than playing royalty free music ***

7/10

people would be more inclined to listen to music played at the gym through speakers and TV’s if the songs were not royalty free music***

**Research performed by PPL PRS in relation to TheMusicLicence, February – March 2020. Figures based on a group of 73 participants.
***Survey conducted via Attest with 250 UK participants November 2022

Online Fitness Classes

Are you an existing PPL PRS customer who has been providing fitness or dance classes online due to the COVID-19 lockdown?

We have an update about the licensing of music for use during online classes which may affect you.

How much does a music licence cost for my gym or dance studio?

The cost of TheMusicLicence for a gym or fitness and dance centre varies depending on the specific characteristics of each business, so please contact us for a quote.

Background Music

Starts from...
£1.73 per day
  •  

Fitness Classes

Starts from...
83
p
per day
  •  

*All cost examples are subject to change

Quote Checklist

Before doing so, please ensure you’ve read our Quote Checklist for each section that is applicable to you, and have the relevant information ready so we can provide an accurate quote for your music licence

Gym operators/fitness & leisure centres

  • The areas where music is audible such as the gym floor, reception areas, etc.
  •   The square meterage of the total area where music is audible.
  • Number of TV screens any music videos are played on.

Fitness instructors, lessons or classes 

  •   Number of lessons/classes held per year.

Dance studios 

  • Number of hours music is played in the studio per week.
  • Number of lessons/classes per year.
  • Number of social dances held per year.

Independent dance teachers  

  • Actual attendance at lessons/classes.

Fitness & Dance FAQs

  • 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.

  • I have paid for my licence, what happens next?

    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 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)

    If you have requested to receive your communication via post, then you will receive a window sticker to show you have TheMusicLicence for your premises, which we hope you will proudly display this in your business.

    If you would like to request a sticker for your premises, please complete TheMusicLicence Sticker Request Form.

    Get a window sticker


    For most customers (unless for example it is for a one-off event), TheMusicLicence renews automatically. We will let you know in advance what royalties are due for the next licence period.

    It's important that you let us know about any changes in your music usage, as this may affect how much you need to pay as outlined in TheMusicLicence terms and conditions.

    If you need to amend or update your music usage, please our Customer Services Team.

    Speak to our friendly team today

    (8am–6pm, Monday–Friday)

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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?’).

  • 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.

  • I only use the TV to play sports, why do I need a TheMusicLicence?

    Sports programming uses more music than people realise, such as opening and closing titles, highlights and featured sequences as well as the advertisements during commercial breaks. You'll therefore usually need TheMusicLicence to use the television for showing sports and other programming in public.

    If you're unsure about whether you need a licence, please contact us.

    Speak to our friendly team today.

    0800 015 6451

    (8am–6pm, Monday–Friday)

  • Is it illegal to play commercial music in my gym, fitness class or dance studio without TheMusicLicence?

    If you play or perform music in your gym, fitness class or dance studio the chances are you need TheMusicLicence

    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

    Obtaining TheMusicLicence gives you this permission, in relation to the vast majority of commercially available music. This ranges from grassroots and independent artists and composers through to the biggest names in the business.

  • How can I play music in my gym, fitness class or dance studio?

    Whether it’s playing background music for your customers via digital devices or by tuning into the radio.

  • Discretionary Charging Policy

    For Tariff F & D, PRS for Music currently operates a discretionary charging policy (“DCP”) for performances of PRS for Music repertoire by providers of dance tuition who are not classed as “educational establishments” under the Copyright Designs & Patents Act 1988.

    Provided that music is performed within the context of and for the purposes of a lesson and/or examination leading to a qualification aligned with Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) Level 1 or above, for the purposes of calculating charges under Tariff F & D, PRS will treat such performance as if it were given in circumstances to which section 34 of the Copyright, Designs and Patent Act 1988 applies and accordingly will not make any charge respect of the session concerned.

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)

Related articles

Thinking about playing music in your fitness & dance 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.