Music in nightclubs is an essential part of the entertainment experience – and it can be used in a number of different ways in members clubs.

Whether you’re hosting live performances and DJs or playing background music via audio devices and TVs, you’ll usually need TheMusicLicence for your club.

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.

Nightclub Music Licence

The power of background music

Whether you’re playing background music via audio devices and TVs or in staff areas, background music in your club has the potential to enhance the experience and create an atmosphere that your customers and staff enjoy. Your background music choices can create that ‘feel good’ mood and encourage customers to stay, and return!

Turn a club into a karaoke and find out more about the power of background music for clubs…

How is my music licence cost calculated?

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 Music Licence 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 members club or nightclub music licence.

Quote Checklist

Live events

  • Number and capacity of live events held per year

Specially featured entertainment, e.g. DJs and dance parties

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

Background music

  • The areas where music is used, such as bars and staff areas
  • The square meterage of each area where music is audible
  • Type of devices used to play music, such as radio, CDs, TVs etc.

Jukeboxes

  • Number and type of jukeboxes in your venue

Music videos

  • Number of TV screens music videos are played on

Understanding your music licence royalties

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

PPL Tariffs
  • Background music in nightclubs, discotheques and dance halls
    View PDF
  • Background music in public houses and bars
    View PDF
  • Background music in offices
    View PDF
  • Background music registered members clubs
    View PDF
  • Jukeboxes with background music facility
    View PDF
  • Specially featured entertainment
    View PDF
  • Background music - music videos (VPL)
    View PDF
  • Foreground music - music videos (VPL)
    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

Choose your venue type