- What is TheMusicLicence?
TheMusicLicence allows you to legally play and perform music in your business, whether through the radio, TV, other digital devices and/or live performances.
If you play or perform music in your business or organisation in the UK, you will usually need TheMusicLicence. It will cover you, with one licence and one invoice, for the use of virtually all commercially released music available – millions of songs and recordings, including the most popular and well-loved music not just from the UK, but also from around the world.
- Why should I play music in my business?
Whatever your business – coffee shop, beauty or hair salon, cocktail bar or restaurant, clothing retailer or offices, factories and workplaces - music 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!
Purchasing TheMusicLicence for your music usage ensures you are legally entitled to play millions of commercially released songs and recordings from all over the world. And in doing so, you are also helping the writers and performers to be fairly rewarded for their work.
Get TheMusicLicence for your business or organisation and put the essential energy of music at the heart of your business!
- Can I spread the cost of my licence?
You can spread the cost of your licence with a Direct Debit.
To set up a direct debit please contact our Customer Service Team.
Speak to our friendly team today
0116 290 0525
(8am to 6pm Monday to Thursday and 8am to 3pm Friday) - Where does the money go?
After our business costs, music licence fees are distributed to all those involved in making music via PPL and PRS for Music.
- What music can I play with TheMusicLicence
Obtaining TheMusicLicence gives you permission to play the vast majority of commercially available music. This ranges from grassroots and independent artists and composers through to the biggest names in the business
PPL and PRS for Music represent millions of musical compositions and recordings from UK artists and music creators. They also represent international artists and music creators through over 100 affiliated societies, that all operate under reciprocal agreements, in over 150 different countries around the world.
The royalties collected are passed to the relevant overseas society who will in turn pay the artists and music creators. So, if the international music is covered by a reciprocal agreement, you will require TheMusicLicence.
You can use the PPL and PRS for Music repertoire searches to see what music is covered.
TheMusicLicence Cost
Whether you wish to play or perform music in your business or organisation, at a public event or a live performance you will usually need a music licence.
The cost of TheMusicLicence will vary according to your music use. We calculate your cost through a range of tariffs to cover the different uses of music used across various venue types.
Contact us today so we can discuss how much a music licence will cost, specifically for your business, and provide you with an exact quote.
How much does a music licence cost?
Once we identify your sector, the cost of a music licence will be determined by different tariffs that are designed specifically to encompass the features of your business and the music you play. As a result, the cost of TheMusicLicence will vary from business to business and from sector to sector.
In order to calculate the cost of your licence under the relevant tariff, we will need you to provide certain information such as square metreage, number of employees, or venue capacity.
We may also need to know the types of devices you use to play recorded music (see radio and TV, music streaming, other recordings), and information about any live performances of music.
Cost Examples
The cost of TheMusicLicence for a business or organisation varies depending on how you’re using music in your business, including the sector that the business operates in.
The examples below provide an idea of the licence costs in different sectors and scenarios. For an exact quote please contact us today.
| Sector | Type | Annual Cost (+VAT) | Starts from… |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Play music in an office (4 or fewer staff) |
£128.63
|
36p per day |
|
|
Play music (audible area of 50sqm or less) |
£330.50 |
91p per day |
|
|
A fitness instructor holding three classes every week for 50 weeks of the year in a village hall, community centre, or other similar premises |
£321.00 |
88p per day |
|
|
Play music via radio (10 or fewer seats) |
£367.90
|
£1 per day |
|
|
Play music via a radio (up to 30 seats that is 400sqm or less) |
£384.46 |
£1.41 per day |
|
|
Play music via radio (400 sqm or less) |
£420.06 |
£1.15 per day |
|
|
A pub or bar could perform live music in their premise for up to 100 people at a one off event |
£13.66 |
14p per person |
*All cost examples are subject to change. Office and Workplace, Shops and Stores, Hair and Beauty updated February 2024. Fitness and Dance updated February 2024.
*Restaurants and Cafés updated January 2024. Pubs and Bars updated January 2024. Daily cost examples are based on music usage for 365 days a year.
How is the cost calculated?
The cost of a music licence for a particular business or organisation depends on a number of factors, such as the size of the business or organisation and the ways that it uses music. In most cases, both a PPL and PRS for Music tariff will apply to your music licence.
To help you understand how much TheMusicLicence could cost, you can view the sector that may be applicable to you below.
Where does the money go?
TheMusicLicence ensures those who are involved in creating the music we all enjoy are fairly paid for their hard work and talent.
After our business costs, all the music licence fees that we collect go back to PPL and PRS for Music who then process, allocate and distribute royalties to the music creators that they represent.
PPL represents the rights of over 130,000 performers and recording rightsholders while PRS for Music represents the rights of over 160,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers.
Thank you, it is particularly welcome at the moment!”
How can I pay for TheMusicLicence?
You can pay for TheMusicLicence in the following ways:
- Pay online via Sage Pay
- Direct Debit
- By phone
- BACS/CHAPS
From the moment you purchase your music licence, you will be licensed to play or perform music within our repertoire on your premises.
Our licences are issued on an annual basis. Your licence will be active from your start date and will renew at the end of each year unless it is terminated. Please check out our terms and conditions for more information about the licence.
If you are a new customer we can accept payment online, over the phone and even set up a direct debit to spread the cost of TheMusicLicence.
TheMusicLicence FAQs
About PPL & PRS for Music
PPL and PRS for Music represent their members, collecting monies owed to them, independently consulting on and negotiating on their tariff rates and licensing customers in respect of music use that is not licensed by PPL PRS (for example, broadcast or online).
PPL and PRS for Music set their respective licensing tariffs separately from each other and they review the cost of their respective tariffs from time to time. Those tariffs will be applied by PPL PRS when issuing TheMusicLicence to customers.
If you’re interested in becoming a member of PPL or PRS for Music, or for enquiries relating to membership and royalties please visit their websites for more information.
PRS for Music
PRS for Music is a collective management organisation that represents hundreds of thousands of songwriters, composers and music publishers for the use of musical compositions and lyrics (for both recorded music and live performances).
PRS for Music collects royalties in respect of certain uses of music on behalf of their members. They then distribute those royalties to their members (following deduction of processing costs).
The cost of your PRS for Music licence will be covered in TheMusicLicence. If you are a songwriter, composer or music publisher, find out about becoming a member of PRS for Music.
PPL UK
PPL is a collective management organisation that represents hundreds of thousands of record companies, musicians and performers in respect of the use of recorded music.
PPL collects royalties in respect of certain uses of music on behalf of their members. They then distribute those royalties to their members (following deduction of processing costs).
The cost of your PPL licence will be covered in TheMusicLicence. If you are a musician, performer or record label, find out about becoming a member of PPL.
Find out the cost of your music licence now
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 call you back soon.
