Music in hotels, bed and breakfasts and guesthouses can enhance the atmosphere and create an environment people enjoy.

Whether you’re playing music in main reception areas, dining areas, guest bedrooms, or even in the kitchens you’ll usually need TheMusicLicence.

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

Every time we haven’t had music in our dining area, it totally wipes the atmosphere. Music gives everyone a boost. It makes the whole place feel more alive. Escape Boutique Hotel, Llandudno

How is my music licence cost calculated?

If you supply recorded music to hotel bedrooms, your combined yearly music licence could cost around £105 (excluding VAT) per 15 bedrooms.

The cost of TheMusicLicence varies depending on the specific characteristics of each business, so please contact us for a quote. 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.

Discretionary Charging Policies

PPL and PRS for Music each separately operate a number of discretionary charging policies setting out circumstances in which, whilst legally entitled to do so, they choose not to apply a charge. Due to the specific nature of these policies please contact us for more information and to check if any of them apply to you.

Quote Checklist

Premises with 15 bedrooms or less: Background music

  • The areas where music is audible, such as receptions, bars etc.

Premises with 15 bedrooms or less: Music in bedrooms

  • Number of bedrooms supplied or provided with recorded music

Premises with 16 bedrooms or more: Background music

  • The areas where music is audible, such as bars, cafes, staff office areas etc.
  • The square meterage of each area where music is audible
  • Number of seats in bar and restaurant areas where music is playing
  • Types of devices used to play music, such as radio, CDs, TV etc.

Premises with 16 bedrooms or more: Music in bedrooms

  • Number of bedrooms supplied or provided with recorded music

Live events

  • Number and capacity of live events held per year

Specially featured entertainment, e.g. DJs and dances

  • Number, duration and average attendance of specially featured entertainment events held per year

Music on hold

  • Details of any telephone on hold music

Understanding your music licence royalties

To help you understand how much TheMusicLicence could cost for your business, you can view the individual PPL and PRS for Music tariffs that may be applicable to you.

PPL Tariffs
  • Small residential hotels and guesthouses
    View PDF
  • Background music in hotels, bars, restaurants and cafes
    View PDF
  • Supply of recorded music to hotel bedrooms
    View PDF
  • Specially featured entertainment
    View PDF
  • Background music in offices
    View PDF
  • Telephone on hold music
    View PDF
PRS for Music Tariffs

FAQs

Do I need TheMusicLicence?
  • Under The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, permission is needed from the copyright holders – generally those who create, record and publish music – in order to play or perform music in public (broadly, this means in any other context than a domestic one).
  • Through their many thousands of members, PPL and PRS for Music manage these rights in the vast majority of commercially released music available, and license that music for use by businesses and organisations in the UK via TheMusicLicence.
  • This means that, if you play or perform music in your business or organisation in the UK, you will usually need TheMusicLicence. Instead of potentially having to contact many thousands of music rights holders individually for permission to play or perform their music, TheMusicLicence gives you those permissions in a single, simple transaction.
Can I play or perform music by specific artists only?
  • TheMusicLicence covers millions of songs and recordings, including the most popular and well-loved music not just from the UK but also from around the world.
  • You can play or perform the music of specific artists only if you wish, but it will not affect the cost of your licence. That’s because the cost is not calculated based on which music artists you play, but instead depends on factors such as the size of your business or organisation and the ways you use music.
Where does the money go?
  • When businesses and organisations pay PPL PRS Ltd for TheMusicLicence, we pass those royalties on to our parent companies, PPL and PRS for Music (after deduction of our running costs). The royalties are shared between PPL and PRS for Music based on which of their respective licensing tariffs apply to the music usage under your licence, and the costs due under those tariffs.
  • PPL and PRS for Music each have databases storing details of millions of musical compositions and recordings. Together with a wealth of information about what music is being used by customers, this enables PPL and PRS for Music to determine fairly and efficiently which of their members to pay, and how much to pay them.
  • This means that, by purchasing TheMusicLicence, you are supporting the future of music by helping to ensure its creators are paid for their work, so that the people who write, perform and record it can continue making the music you love.

Get TheMusicLicence for your business

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