- The music is only for employees in my office/workplace, do I still need TheMusicLicence?
Even if you are only playing music in your office, warehouse, factories & other workplaces for employees, you’ll usually need TheMusicLicence.
Music that's played outside of a domestic environment is classed as a public performance, even if the music can only be heard by employees in the staff areas in your business.
TheMusicLicence gives you permission to play music in your business or organisation for your employees.
- How can I play music in my factory or warehouse?
You can play music at your workplace in different ways. Whether it’s playing background music for your factory via digital devices or tuning in with workplace radio. You can play music in the following ways:
- Radio & TV
- Streaming services - this may require a commercial streaming service. Before using platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube etc, please check that their terms & conditions allow for commercial use before playing music in your restaurant or café.
- CDs, MP3s & other recordings
- Live Music
To discover the different ways you can play music in your business visit our “how to play” section in the navigation.
- 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 radio, TV broadcasts such as sports 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 require permission from the copyright holders and TheMusicLicence will give you that permission, covering the vast majority of commercially released music.
- I have music on my telephone on hold system, do I need TheMusicLicence?
If you are using commercially released music on your telephone system in your office or workplace, then you’ll usually need TheMusicLicence.
The music on your telephone system is being played for your customers and is classed as public performance. In some cases, PPL and PRS for Music have agreements in place with telephone on hold music suppliers who provide you with TheMusicLicence as part of the service they offer.
- 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?’).
- 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.
Factory & Warehouse Music Licence
Factories and warehouses can legally play music in a variety of ways with TheMusicLicence.
Whether you’re playing music on the factory floor or in the canteen and office areas by using a workplace radio, CD/MP3, TV or the on-hold system via your telephone; you’ll usually need a music licence.
In order to play or perform music legally in your factory or warehouse, you may need TheMusicLicence. 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.
Home » TheMusicLicence » Sectors » Factory & Warehouse
Do I need a music licence for my factory or warehouse?
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 (see FAQ ‘What does playing music ‘in public’ mean?’). TheMusicLicence allows you to legally play music for employees and your workforce in your factories, warehouses, offices and canteen areas through radio, TV and other digital devices alike.
By obtaining TheMusicLicence you’ll be able to play virtually all commercially released music legally and enjoy its benefits whilst ensuring that its creators are fairly rewarded for their work.
Playing music in your factory or warehouse.
Factories are known for having fast-paced environments and they are often designed to optimise productivity and efficiency, which can lead to a lot of movement and activity on the factory floor.
Employees must be able to keep up with the pace of production and work quickly to keep the assembly line moving smoothly. Most sites have break-out areas and canteens which give staff a place to relax or socialise with other employees during down time. It’s important to keep staff engaged and motivated throughout their workday, which is why introducing music could be highly beneficial to your business; to. It could improve the atmosphere considerably.
Playing music in the workplace could help to create a more upbeat and energetic environment and could help to keep staff positive, engaged and focused.
It could help to:
Increase…
- • Productivity
• Retention
• Wellbeing
• Team Spirit
Decrease...
- • Clock Watching
• Staff turnover
Staff morale & productivity
Listening to music at work has the potential to make us feel positive and upbeat and could create a calming environment, relieving stress and other anxieties that employees may experience.
89%* of workers agree that playing music lifts the mood and creates a more positive atmosphere in the workplace. By creating an environment your employees enjoy working in, it has the potential to make staff feel more valued, improving their overall attitude and performance.
Furthermore, the improved atmosphere could impact your office or workplace in several ways. For instance, a happy working environment could lead to improvements in attendance, retention and an overall sense of involvement.
Playing background music in your office or workplace could motivate your employees and help to improve the concentration and focus of your workforce. Music can enhance our focus by releasing dopamine in the brain’s reward centre, which has numerous positive effects on health and well-being.
*We surveyed 500 people in the UK from workplaces currently playing background music. Survey conducted via Attest in January 2023.
Music & statistics
- 87%* of people surveyed think playing background music creates a positive working environment.
- 86%* feel more engaged and focused when background music is on in the workplace.
- 93%* agree that playing music can create a calmer working environment and can help alleviate stress and anxiety.
*We surveyed 500 people in the UK from workplaces currently playing background music. Survey conducted via Attest in January 2023.
Whistling while you work. Music for your factories and warehouses.
Introducing music could be highly beneficial to your warehouse, distribution or general manufacturing business. But this is nothing new.
‘MusicWhileYouWork’ was a BBC radio programme that played non-stop popular music, between 1940 and 1967.
The workplace radio programme provided music that aimed to help factory workers become more productive. Music While you Work proved so popular within the industry that they introduced an extra broadcast in the late evening for night-shift workers.
To this day, music remains a simple and accessible way to potentially keep stress levels down, reduce sickness levels, boost positivity and focus the mind.
How much does a music licence cost for my factory or warehouse?
The cost of TheMusicLicence depends on a number of factors, including the size of the factory or warehouse, number of employees which music is audible too and how you play music in your day-to-day operations, whether that be for background purposes using radio, mp3 or TV, or other usages such as music on hold.
Quote Checklist
Before contacting us, 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 workplace music licence.
Background music
- Number of employees, working days and hours of operation.
- The areas where music is used, such as factory & warehouse floors, canteens and office areas.
- Type of devices used to play music, such as radio, CDs, TVs etc.
- The square meterage of each area where music is audible.
Music on hold
- Number of external lines.
Factories and Warehouses FAQs
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 to 6pm Monday to Thursday and 8am to 3pm Friday)
Factory & Warehouse Brochure
Read our full guide to using music in your Factory or Warehouse here
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Thinking about playing music in your hotel, B&B or guesthouse and want to know more?
What is TheMusicLicence?
What is TheMusicLicence
Do I need a music licence?
Do I need a music licence?
Where does my money go?
Where does my money go?
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.