Do I need a music licence for my business?

If you play music in customer areas or for staff (in a shop, café, restaurant, salon, gym, office, warehouse or showroom) you usually do. There are narrow exceptions, such as genuinely royalty-free or specifically-licensed music, but they are the exception rather than the rule.

What is the difference between PPL and PRS?

PRS for Music collects for the people who wrote and published the song. PPL collects for the record label and performers who made the recording. They are different rights holders, so most businesses need both, which is why they are combined into a single licence.

Updated 18 August 2026 · 10 min read

Music licence UK: what it is, who needs one and what it costs

Everything a UK business needs to know about the music licence: what it is, who needs one, what it costs, and how not to overpay.

On this page

What is a music licence?
TheMusicLicence: PPL and PRS combined
Does my business need a music licence?
How much does a music licence cost?
Why so many businesses overpay
Read the full guides
What’s the difference between PPL and PRS?
Can I play Spotify or Apple Music in my business?
Do I need a licence to play the radio at work?
What is the 50% surcharge?
What happens if I play music without a licence?
How do I get a music licence?
How long does a music licence last, and does it renew?
Making sure you’re not overpaying
Common questions

If your business plays music where customers or staff can hear it, you almost certainly need a music licence. This guide explains, in plain English, what a music licence is in the UK, who needs one, what it costs and, importantly, how to make sure you aren’t paying more than you should.

What is a music licence?#

Playing commercially released music in public (from the radio, TV, a streaming service or live performers) uses work that belongs to other people: the songwriters and publishers who wrote it, and the record labels and performers who recorded it. A music licence is the permission that lets your business play that music legally, with the fees passed back to those rights holders.

TheMusicLicence: PPL and PRS combined#

In the UK most businesses need permission from two organisations: PRS for Music (for the songwriting) and PPL (for the recording). Since 2018 these are combined into a single licence, TheMusicLicence, issued by their joint venture PPL PRS Ltd. So in practice one licence covers both.

Does my business need a music licence?#

If you play music in customer areas or for staff (in a shop, café, restaurant, salon, gym, office, warehouse or showroom) the answer is usually yes. There are narrow exceptions (for example genuinely royalty-free or specifically-licensed music), but they’re the exception rather than the rule. Playing music without the appropriate licence can lead to enforcement action.

How much does a music licence cost?#

There’s no flat fee. The cost is calculated from your specific premises and how you use music: the customer-audible floor area, whether it’s background music or live/DJ/events, your opening hours and the number of sites. A small shop might pay a few hundred pounds a year; the largest commercial users can be billed several thousand.

Why so many businesses overpay#

The fee depends on the details declared for each site. If those details changed after a refit, closure or change in music use, the published tariff may need to be applied to updated facts. Already have a bill in front of you? Use this invoice-triage guide to check the amount, request the underlying usage summary and raise a factual query.

Read the full guides#

What’s the difference between PPL and PRS?#

PRS for Music collects for the people who wrote and published the song; PPL collects for the record label and performers who made the recording. They’re different rights holders, so most businesses need both, which is why they’re combined into a single licence.

Can I play Spotify or Apple Music in my business?#

No. Personal Spotify and Apple Music subscriptions are licensed for personal use only and their terms don’t allow business use. To play music to customers or staff you need a commercial music source and TheMusicLicence.

Do I need a licence to play the radio at work?#

Usually yes. Playing the radio where customers or staff can hear it is a public performance of the music it broadcasts, so it generally needs TheMusicLicence, separate from any TV Licence.

What is the 50% surcharge?#

If you played music before getting licensed, PRS charges a higher rate, standard plus 50%, for the first year only, and PPL applies a similar 50% surcharge. It should drop off after year one; if it hasn’t, that’s an overcharge.

What happens if I play music without a licence?#

Playing music without the appropriate licence infringes copyright and can lead to enforcement action, and you can be liable for up to six years of prior unlicensed use. Arranging the licence proactively avoids that position.

How do I get a music licence?#

You apply through PPL PRS Ltd, which issues TheMusicLicence for both PPL and PRS for Music. You tell them about your premises and how you use music, and they calculate a fee and set up the licence. It is worth getting the details right from the start, because the figures you give (your audible floor area and how music is used, in particular) drive the price for years afterwards. If you would rather not deal with it yourself, our Opening Package tells you exactly what to declare, gives you the expected annual cost in writing, and makes the application for you, with your first year of Licence Watch included. It costs £199, or £399 if you'll have live music, DJs, classes or functions.

How long does a music licence last, and does it renew?#

TheMusicLicence usually runs for twelve months and renews automatically, with the fee re-indexed each year. Renewal is the moment overcharges quietly compound: if your premises, opening hours or music use changed during the year, or the original details were wrong, the renewal simply carries the error forward. It is a good prompt to check the bill still matches reality before you pay it.

Making sure you’re not overpaying#

The goal isn’t to avoid a licence you genuinely need: it’s to make sure you’re correctly licensed and on the lowest compliant tariff, so you’re covered without overpaying. We’re an independent consultancy (not affiliated with PPL PRS Ltd, PPL or PRS for Music); if you’d like a second opinion: 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

What is a music licence?: A music licence is the permission that lets your business play commercially released music where customers or staff can hear it. In the UK it is TheMusicLicence, which covers both PRS for Music (for the songwriting) and PPL (for the recording) in one.
Do I need a music licence for my business?: If you play music in customer areas or for staff (in a shop, café, restaurant, salon, gym, office, warehouse or showroom) you usually do. There are narrow exceptions, such as genuinely royalty-free or specifically-licensed music, but they are the exception rather than the rule.
How much does a music licence cost?: There is no flat fee. The cost is calculated from your premises and how you use music: the customer-audible floor area, whether it is background or live music, your opening hours and the number of sites. A small shop might pay a few hundred pounds a year; the largest commercial users can be billed several thousand.
What is the difference between PPL and PRS?: PRS for Music collects for the people who wrote and published the song. PPL collects for the record label and performers who made the recording. They are different rights holders, so most businesses need both, which is why they are combined into a single licence.
Can I play Spotify or Apple Music in my business?: No. Personal Spotify and Apple Music subscriptions are licensed for personal use only and their terms do not allow business use. To play music to customers or staff you need a commercial music source and TheMusicLicence.
Do I need a licence to play the radio at work?: Usually yes. Playing the radio where customers or staff can hear it is a public performance of the music it broadcasts, so it generally needs TheMusicLicence. This is separate from any TV Licence.
What happens if I play music without a licence?: Playing music without the appropriate licence infringes copyright and can lead to enforcement action, and you can be liable for up to six years of prior unlicensed use. Arranging the licence proactively avoids that position.

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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.