- 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.
- 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?’).
- 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.
- 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 office 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Office & Workplace Music Licence
Offices and workplaces can legally play music in a variety of ways with TheMusicLicence.
Whether you’re playing music in the office, using a workplace radio 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 office or workplace 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 » Offices & Workplaces
Do I need a music licence for my office or workplace?
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 customers and employees in your office or workplace through the radio, TV and other digital devices.
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 office & workplace
No matter what your business you want it to run smoothly, be this assigning workloads, managing partnerships or setting out your budget.
But running a successful business is about more than just your day to day operations. It’s about providing an excellent service for your customers or clients. It’s also about encouraging teamwork and supporting collaboration; but most of all, it’s about keeping your workforce focused whilst safeguarding their well-being.
That’s why introducing music could be highly beneficial to your business and could help to improve the experience for both your staff and your customers.
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
- Health and wellbeing
- Team spirit
- Employability
Decrease…
- Clock watching
- Staff turnover
Music & staff morale
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.
81%1 of people enjoy listening to background music at their 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, this improvement in 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.
- Attest survey (Jan 2023) of 500 people in the UK who are working in offices and workplaces currently playing background music.
Music & staff productivity
Listening to music at work could have a considerable effect on both productivity and morale.
Playing background music in your office or workplace could motivate your employees and help to improve the concentration and focus of your workforce.
Music enhances our focus by releasing dopamine in the brain’s reward centre, which has numerous positive effects on health and well-being. Moreover, 87%* of people think that playing background music creates a positive working environment.
This positive effect could boost collaboration with colleagues and improve your employee’s interaction with customers and clients. It could therefore help to improve levels of customer service as a result.
Music & statistics
81%
of people enjoy listening to background music at their workplace
89%
of people surveyed said playing music helps to lift the atmosphere at work
78%
of people working in an office or workplace feel more motivated when music is playing
87%
of people think playing background music creates a positive working environment
86%
of people agree that they feel more engaged and focused when background music is playing at work
93%
of people agree that playing music can create a calmer environment and can help to alleviate stress and anxiety
* Attest survey (Jan 2023) of 500 people in the UK who are working in offices and workplaces currently playing background music.
Whistling while you work...
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 office or workplace?
The cost of TheMusicLicence depends on a number of factors, including your type of venue and how you use music in your day-to-day operations, whether that be for background purposes or other usages such as music on hold.
Background music
Starts from...On hold music
Starts from...* All cost examples are subject to change, correct as of March 2024
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 office areas, factory floors etc.
- 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.
Office & Workplace 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-6pm, Monday-Friday)
Office & Workplace Brochure
Read our full guide to using music in your office and workplace here
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Thinking about playing music in your workplace 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?
**An office with 4 or fewer workers could play music for £104.82 providing the music is not audible to customers or other visitors to the premises.
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.