Reference · 2026 · ex-VAT

PPL PRS music licence tariffs & costs (2026).

TheMusicLicence isn’t one fee — it’s a PPL tariff plus a separate PRS for Music tariff, added together. PPL covers the sound recording; PRS for Music covers the underlying song. The two organisations set their rates separately and re-index annually on staggered dates, which is a big part of why bills are so hard to sanity-check. Below are the real published 2026 figures — shown combined for shops, where we’ve verified both halves — and the full tariff index with links to each official source.

What a shop pays, combined

For a retail shop playing background music, the annual cost is the PPL shops tariff plus the PRS for Music “RS” tariff, by customer-audible floor area. All figures ex-VAT.

Audible area	PPL	PRS for Music	Combined / year
Up to 50m²	£204.19	£246.80	£450.99
Up to 100m²	£204.19	£246.80	£450.99
Up to 150m²	£204.19	£359.90	£564.09
Up to 200m²	£204.19	£359.90	£564.09
Up to 300m²	£204.19	£473.70	£677.89
Up to 500m²	£204.19	£586.70	£790.89
Up to 750m²	£257.23	£700.20	£957.43
Up to 1000m²	£345.63	£813.60	£1,159.23

A first-year higher rate (standard + 50%) can apply if you played music before getting licensed — for the first year only. If it’s still on your bill after that, it’s likely an overcharge.

The underlying band tables

PRS for Music · RS

Audible area	Standard / year
Up to 100m²	£246.80
101–150m²	£359.90
151–200m²	£359.90
201–300m²	£473.70
301–500m²	£586.70
501–750m²	£700.20
751–1000m²	£813.60
1001–1250m²	£926.80
1251–1500m²	£1,040.10
1501–1750m²	£1,153.60
1751–2000m²	£1,267.10
2001–2500m²	£1,380.40
2501–3000m²	£1,493.70
3001–3500m²	£1,607.10
3501–4000m²	£1,720.50
4001–4500m²	£1,833.50
4501–5000m²	£1,947.10
5001–6000m²	£2,060.30
6001–7000m²	£2,173.60
7001–8000m²	£2,287.00
8001–9000m²	£2,400.10
9001–10000m²	£2,513.70

Official source ↗

PPL · PPLPP211

Audible area	Standard / year
Up to 600m²	£204.19
601–650m²	£221.87
651–700m²	£239.55
701–750m²	£257.23
751–800m²	£274.91
801–850m²	£292.59
851–900m²	£310.27
901–950m²	£327.95
951–1000m²	£345.63
Each additional 50m²	+£17.68

Official source ↗

The full tariff index

Every current PPL, PRS for Music and VPL tariff that can make up TheMusicLicence, with a link to the official document. We publish the facts (codes, titles, sources) — not the copyrighted PDFs.

PPL · 67 tariffs

PPLPP001 — Specially Featured Entertainment (SFE)PDF ↗

PPLPP002 — Single Casual EventsPDF ↗

PPLPP003 — Pop QuizzesPDF ↗

PPLPP004 — Mobile DJPDF ↗

PPLPP016 — Background Music — Registered Members’ ClubsPDF ↗

PPLPP017 — Background Music — Nightclubs, Discotheques & Dance HallsPDF ↗

PPLPP018 — Background Music — MiscellaneousPDF ↗

PPLPP020 — Dance TeachersPDF ↗

PPLPP021 — Dance StudiosPDF ↗

PPLPP023 — Practice & Social DancesPDF ↗

PPLPP024 — Holiday Centres — Dance SupplementPDF ↗

PPLPP025 — Scottish Highland DancingPDF ↗

PPLPP026 — Folk Club DancesPDF ↗

PPLPP027 — Country & Western DancesPDF ↗

PPLPP030 — Amateur Theatrical PerformancesPDF ↗

PPLPP031 — Background Music — TheatresPDF ↗

PPLPP032 — Theatrical ProductionsPDF ↗

PPLPP034 — Puppet & Magic ShowsPDF ↗

PPLPP036 — Background Music — CinemasPDF ↗

PPLPP037 — Listening PostsPDF ↗

PPLPP040 — Background Music — Museums & Art GalleriesPDF ↗

PPLPP041 — Background Music — Buses & CoachesPDF ↗

PPLPP042 — Background Music — Inland & Coastal VesselsPDF ↗

PPLPP043 — Background Music — Railway, Underground & Bus/Coach StationsPDF ↗

PPLPP044 — Background Music — AircraftPDF ↗

PPLPP049 — Background Music — Gymnasium WorkoutPDF ↗

PPLPP050 — Background Music — Swimming PoolsPDF ↗

PPLPP051 — Background Music — Spectator SportsPDF ↗

PPLPP052 — Background Music — Skating RinksPDF ↗

PPLPP053 — Synchronised SwimmingPDF ↗

PPLPP054 — Background Music — Leisure Centres & Health/Fitness ClubsPDF ↗

PPLPP055 — Background Music — Ten Pin Bowling CentresPDF ↗

PPLPP056 — Laser Space GamesPDF ↗

PPLPP057 — Background Music — Concert VenuesPDF ↗

PPLPP058 — DressagePDF ↗

PPLPP059 — Background Music — Gymnastics ClubsPDF ↗

PPLPP062 — Fashion ShowsPDF ↗

PPLPP070 — Background Music — Bingo SessionsPDF ↗

PPLPP071 — Background Music — Amusement & Pleasure ParksPDF ↗

PPLPP073 — Background Music — Amusement ArcadesPDF ↗

PPLPP074 — Background Music — CasinosPDF ↗

PPLPP080 — ExhibitionsPDF ↗

PPLPP082 — Public Address EngineersPDF ↗

PPLPP083 — Election CampaignsPDF ↗

PPLPP084 — Telephone Music on HoldPDF ↗

PPLPP085 — Background Music — Waiting Rooms & Reception AreasPDF ↗

PPLPP087 — Background Music — NAAFI / Armed Services BasesPDF ↗

PPLPP088 — Background Music — Holiday CentresPDF ↗

PPLPP090 — Background Music — Caravan ParksPDF ↗

PPLPP113 — Background Music — Hairdressing & Beauty SalonsPDF ↗

PPLPP114 — SchoolsPDF ↗

PPLPP115 — ChurchesPDF ↗

PPLPP116 — Community BuildingsPDF ↗

PPLPP210 — Background Music — Pubs, Bars, Restaurants, Cafés & HotelsPDF ↗

PPLPP211 — Background Music — Shops & StoresPDF ↗

PPLPP212 — Background Music — Factories & OfficesPDF ↗

PPLPP213 — Recorded Music in Hotel BedroomsPDF ↗

PPLPP222 — Exercise to Music (ETM)PDF ↗

PPLPP223 — Not-for-Profit Amateur Sports ClubsPDF ↗

PPLPP225 — Background Music — Small WorkplacesPDF ↗

PPLPP226 — NurseriesPDF ↗

PPLPP289 — Small Residential Hotels & GuesthousesPDF ↗

PPLPP299 — Specially Featured Entertainment (SFE) — Tariff 299PDF ↗

PPLPP310 — PPL Tariff (PPLPP310)PDF ↗

PPLPP311 — PPL Tariff (PPLPP311)PDF ↗

PPLPP399 — Specially Featured Entertainment (SFE) — Tariff 399PDF ↗

SFE — Specially Featured Entertainment (SFE) — Nightclubs, Pubs, Bars, Restaurants, Cafés & HotelsPDF ↗

PRS for Music · 45 tariffs

AC — AircraftPDF ↗

AMS — PRS Tariff ‘AMS’PDF ↗

APS — Amusement ParksPDF ↗

AS — Agricultural & County ShowsPDF ↗

B — Bands (Service & Other)PDF ↗

BC — Bowling ConcoursesPDF ↗

BO — BingoPDF ↗

C — CinemasPDF ↗

CB — Community BuildingsPDF ↗

D — Commercial Discotheques & Dance HallsPDF ↗

DP — Dance PartiesPDF ↗

EE — Educational EstablishmentsPDF ↗

EX — ExhibitionsPDF ↗

FD — Fitness ClassesPDF ↗

FE — Further Education CollegesPDF ↗

FL — Firework DisplaysPDF ↗

GP — General PurposesPDF ↗

HB — Hairdressers & Beauty SalonsPDF ↗

HC — Holiday CentresPDF ↗

HCP — Holiday Caravan ParksPDF ↗

HR — Hotels, Restaurants & CafésPDF ↗

I — Music in the WorkplacePDF ↗

J — Proprietary ClubsPDF ↗

JMC — Members’ ClubsPDF ↗

K — CircusesPDF ↗

LA — Local Authorities & CouncilsPDF ↗

LC — Classical Music Concerts & RecitalsPDF ↗

LP — Popular Music ConcertsPDF ↗

MH — PRS Tariff ‘MH’PDF ↗

ML — PRS Tariff ‘ML’PDF ↗

MV — PRS Tariff ‘MV’PDF ↗

N — Nurseries & Pre-SchoolsPDF ↗

O — Open-Air Places & ParksPDF ↗

P — Public HousesPDF ↗

PPL — Minimum Annual FeePDF ↗

PSB — Passenger ShippingPDF ↗

RS — Shops & StoresPDF ↗

SE — Sports EventsPDF ↗

SP — Small PremisesPDF ↗

SR — Skating RinksPDF ↗

T — Theatrical PresentationsPDF ↗

TR — PRS Tariff ‘TR’PDF ↗

UCH — Universities & CollegesPDF ↗

V — Variety ShowsPDF ↗

YCH — Youth Clubs & CentresPDF ↗

VPL · 9 tariffs

VPLPP001 — Music Video — Background FeesPDF ↗

VPLPP002 — Music Video — Foreground FeesPDF ↗

VPLPP004 — Music Video — Exhibition FeesPDF ↗

VPLPP005 — Music Video — AirlinesPDF ↗

VPLPP006 — Music Video — Concert & Stage EventsPDF ↗

VPLPP007 — Video Jukebox OperatorsPDF ↗

VPLPP009 — Music Video — Mobile DJPDF ↗

VPLPP013 — Music Video — Spectator SportsPDF ↗

VPLPP014 — Music Video — Gyms & Leisure CentresPDF ↗

Not sure which tariff you’re on?

Try the calculator for the exact shop figure, or send your invoice and we’ll check it line by line against these tariffs — free. No savings, no fee.

Open the cost calculator Get my free invoice check

Figures are the published 2026 PPL, PRS for Music and VPL tariffs, ex-VAT, and re-index annually — treat them as a snapshot, not a quote. Source: https://pplprs.co.uk/business/other/ (public PPL, PRS for Music & VPL tariffs for TheMusicLicence). MLC is independent — not affiliated with PPL PRS Ltd, PRS for Music or PPL.