Do nurseries need a music licence?

Generally yes, where commercially released recordings are played to children and staff, in the same way TheMusicLicence applies to other businesses. Staff and children singing nursery rhymes unaccompanied is treated differently from playing commercial recordings, but if you play recorded music at all, a licence is generally needed.

What drives the cost of a nursery's music licence?

How recorded music is played across rooms and communal areas, the size of the setting and the number of sites, and whether a first-year higher rate applies from any previously unlicensed period. Multi-site nursery groups scale from the figure for a single small setting.

Where do nurseries commonly overpay?

Common issues are being billed as though the setting is a commercial entertainment venue, a carried-forward first-year higher rate that should have dropped off after year one, and the same error repeated across a group of settings, which compounds the overcharge for multi-site nursery operators.

Updated 19 July 2026 · 4 min read

Music licence for nurseries and childcare settings: what applies

Nurseries play and sing music all day, so licensing applies. Here’s a plain-English look at what’s fair for a childcare setting.

On this page

What drives the cost for a nursery?
What does it typically cost?
Where nurseries commonly overpay
Common questions

Music is part of daily life in a nursery: songs at circle time, background music, dancing and play. Where commercially released recordings are played to children and staff, TheMusicLicence generally applies, in the same way it does to other businesses. It’s an area owners often find confusing, so it’s worth being clear on what you actually need and what a fair figure looks like.

What drives the cost for a nursery?#

How recorded music is played across your rooms and communal areas.
The size of the setting and the number of sites.
Whether a first-year higher rate applies from any previously unlicensed period.

A note on singing: staff and children singing nursery rhymes unaccompanied is treated differently from playing commercial recordings, but if you play recorded music at all, a licence is generally needed. If you’re genuinely unsure whether you need one, that’s exactly what a free Sanity Call is for.

What does it typically cost?#

For a single small setting playing background and activity music, both societies charge a flat annual fee: PRS for Music’s nursery tariff (N) is £57.75 per premises in its September 2025 edition, with no minimum royalty, and PPL’s nursery tariff is £61.22 a year from 1 September 2026 (all ex-VAT). Multi-site nursery groups scale from there. Check the exact figure against your invoice rather than assuming.

Where nurseries commonly overpay#

Being billed as though the setting is a commercial entertainment venue.
A carried-forward first-year higher rate.
The same error repeated across a group of settings.

Send us your invoice, or book a free Sanity Call, and we’ll tell you honestly what you need and whether your bill is right. One site? The free Invoice Check gives you a written verdict in five working days. Four or more sites? The estate review is free and we only charge if we recover money. See pricing.

Common questions

Do nurseries need a music licence?: Generally yes, where commercially released recordings are played to children and staff, in the same way TheMusicLicence applies to other businesses. Staff and children singing nursery rhymes unaccompanied is treated differently from playing commercial recordings, but if you play recorded music at all, a licence is generally needed.
How much does a nursery music licence cost?: Both societies charge nurseries a flat annual fee per premises. PRS for Music's nursery tariff is £57.75 in its September 2025 edition, with no minimum royalty, and PPL's is £61.22 a year from 1 September 2026, both before VAT. Multi-site groups pay for each setting.
What drives the cost of a nursery's music licence?: How recorded music is played across rooms and communal areas, the size of the setting and the number of sites, and whether a first-year higher rate applies from any previously unlicensed period. Multi-site nursery groups scale from the figure for a single small setting.
Where do nurseries commonly overpay?: Common issues are being billed as though the setting is a commercial entertainment venue, a carried-forward first-year higher rate that should have dropped off after year one, and the same error repeated across a group of settings, which compounds the overcharge for multi-site nursery operators.

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This guide is general information, not legal advice, and MLC is an independent consultancy, not affiliated with PPL PRS Ltd, PRS for Music or PPL.