Fitness, Exercise and Dance Classes

Let the music take control and legally play music in your fitness, exercise and dance classes with TheMusicLicence.

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Do I need a music licence for my fitness or dance classes if I’m an instructor?

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

TheMusicLicence allows you to legally use music in your fitness or dance classes through any device of your choice and grants you permission to use music from the repertoires of PPL and PRS for Music.

If you are an instructor and host classes in venues, such as church halls or community centres, you will need to have a music licence in place to ensure you’re legally covered for the music you use.

Using licensed music in your fitness or dance classes

Music can be an important part of day-to-day life for many people, especially while they exercise or when they are having a break between sessions. By using music covered by TheMusicLicence, you can: 

  • Enhance the experience – Using tracks that are familiar to your participants can create a fun and engaging environment, making the class more appealing and enjoyable for everyone involved. Music that strikes a familiar chord could also improve the overall experience for those involved, evoking emotions and boosting motivation and morale in the process, which could help them on their way to achieving their fitness goals.
  • Creative Freedom – By having a diversified range of music genres at your disposal, you can tailor your playlists to match the mood, pace and energy of the class. You could have the tempo of the music increase as your playlist progresses and slow down towards the end of your session, just in time for when your participants cool down.
  • Participant Retention/Encourage Loyalty – High-quality music that resonates with participants can make your classes more enjoyable, increasing satisfaction and the chance of your participants returning to your classes in future, building loyalty in the process. More than 85.7% of people would go to an exercise/dance class again if the class used recognisable/motivational music.*
  • Professional image – By using high quality music that TheMusicLicence gives you access to, you can demonstrate that your business operates responsibly and professionally, boosting the reputation of your business, which could help attract new attendees in the future.

References:

*Survey conducted by PPL PRS via Attest with 500 UK participants March 2025.

How much does a music licence cost for my Fitness or Dance Classes?

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.

Fitness Classes

Starts from...
88
p
per day
  •  

Dance Classes

Starts from...
28
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

Fitness instructors, lessons or classes 

  •   Number of lessons/classes held per year.
  •   Annual aggregate attendance.

Online Fitness Classes

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, PPL and PRS for Music introduced guidance for licensing Online Fitness Classes.

These measures are still currently in place.

Fitness & Dance FAQs

  • 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 speak to Client Services.

    Speak to our friendly team today

    (8am to 6pm Monday to Thursday and 8am to 3pm 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 Client Services.

    Speak to our friendly team today

    0116 290 0525
    (8am to 6pm Monday to Thursday and 8am to 3pm Friday)

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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?’).

  • 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.

  • 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.

    0116 290 0525

    (8am to 6pm Monday to Thursday and 8am to 3pm Friday)

  • 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.

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

  • 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 to 6pm Monday to Thursday and 8am to 3pm 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 to 6pm Monday to Thursday and 8am to 3pm Friday)

Alternatively you can complete the online form and an adviser will be in touch.