Stop paying for music you don't play.
Closed, sold, cut back or switched the music off? TheMusicLicence doesn't stop by itself. It renews every year until it's ended properly, in writing, on the right date. We help you do that, and check whether you're owed a credit for changes along the way.
Doing it yourself: five steps
Plenty of people do this on their own, and we'd rather you did than paid for help you don't need. These are the rules from TheMusicLicence's own terms and conditions.
- 1Check whether you still need itRadio, TV, hold music and staff-only music still count. If any of those stay, cancelling can leave you unlicensed. If you've switched to a provider that genuinely covers the rights, get that in writing first.
- 2Find your licence yearTheMusicLicence renews automatically. Your licence year runs from your start date, not January. It's on your first invoice or Usage Summary.
- 3Give written notice at least a month before it endsUnder clause 9.3 of the terms, either side can end the licence at the end of a licence year with at least one month's written notice. Miss that and it rolls into another year.
- 4Report changes the day they happenCut seats, rooms or floor area, or stopped DJ nights? Under clause 5.5 a reduction usually runs from the date you tell PPL PRS, not the date it happened. Selling is the exception: that's credited from the date of disposal.
- 5Get it confirmed in writingAsk for written confirmation that the licence ends on the right date and that no further invoices will be raised. Keep a copy of everything.
When it's worth having us do it
It's worth a second pair of eyes when you're already being billed for a period you think shouldn't count, when a change was reported but never applied, when a debt letter has arrived, or when you run more than one site and each has its own licence year.
Tell us what's changed
Closed, sold, fewer rooms, no more music? Tell us roughly when, and what you've been billed since. A real person replies within 72 hours.
Common questions
How do I cancel PPL PRS?
Write to PPL PRS, by registered post to its registered office or using the written contact details on its contact page, giving at least one month's notice before the end of your licence year. Include your account number, premises address, the end date and why. Ask for written confirmation. There's a free letter for this on our help page.
My business has closed. Do I still have to pay?
PPL PRS says that if your business has closed or is due to close you can cancel by writing to them, and the licence ends at the end of your current licence year if you write at least a month before it ends. If you've sold or given up the premises, give the exact disposal date and evidence, because the terms credit a reduction from that date.
Can I get a refund if I cancel?
The terms give a full refund if you cancel within 14 days of the agreement date and haven't played any music under it. Beyond that, we couldn't find a general right to a pro-rata refund in the published terms. Changes that lower your fee are credited from the date you report them, or the date of disposal if you sell. That's why reporting changes promptly matters so much.
Is there a cancellation fee?
We couldn't find a separate cancellation fee in TheMusicLicence's published terms, code of conduct or help pages. If you've been charged something described as a cancellation fee, ask PPL PRS in writing what it is for and which term it relies on.
More detail, with the clause references: how to cancel or reduce TheMusicLicence and buying or selling a business.
General information, not legal advice. Based on TheMusicLicence Terms and Conditions (version 2.1) and PPL PRS's published help pages. Music Licence Consulting is an independent consultancy and is not affiliated with PPL PRS Ltd, PPL or PRS for Music.