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United Kingdom music licensing for business

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Why your business needs special music licensing

Playing music in your business, whether it’s a shop, cafe, restaurant, or hotel, is not as simple as using your personal streaming account. In the UK, using music in a commercial environment requires specific licences to ensure you’re not violating copyright law. These licences protect the rights of songwriters, composers, performers, and record labels whose work enhances your business environment.

For a complete overview, visit our guide to commercial music licensing for business.

Music licensing requirements for businesses in the UK

Why you can't use personal streaming services

There’s a crucial legal distinction between personal enjoyment and business use of music. Consumer streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, or Amazon Music are licensed for private, personal use only. Playing music from these services in a public or commercial setting is considered a public performance, which requires separate licensing.

Using a personal streaming service in your business could expose you to legal action, including fines and copyright infringement lawsuits. Canadian performance rights organizations (PROs) actively monitor compliance to ensure that music creators are compensated.

Understanding music licensing in the UK

Types of music rights

Businesses need to be aware of three main types of music rights:

✔ Recording rights: The right to use a specific recording of a song, as performed by a particular artist.

✔ Publishing rights: The right to use the underlying composition, including lyrics and melody.

✔ Public performance rights: The right to play music in public or commercial spaces. This is the most relevant for business owners and is managed by UK PROs.

UK performance rights organisations

In the UK, two main PROs manage the majority of music licensing:

✔ PPL (Phonographic Performance Ltd): Represents performers and record labels for the use of recorded music.

✔ PRS for Music (Performing Right Society): Represents songwriters, composers, and music publishers for the use of musical compositions and lyrics.

These organisations have formed a joint venture, PPL PRS Ltd, to streamline the process. Businesses now only need one licence, TheMusicLicence, to cover both rights.

Comparison table: UK PROs at a glance

Feature PPL (Phonographic Performance Ltd) PRS for Music (Performing Right Society)
Rights Covered Performers, Record Labels (Recordings) Songwriters, Composers, Publishers (Compositions)
Members 150,000+ performers/labels 180,000+ songwriters/composers/publishers
Typical Cost Up to £350/year From £100/year
Licence Needed TheMusicLicence (joint PPL PRS) TheMusicLicence (joint PPL PRS)
Notable Role Recorded music in public Live and recorded music in public

Why businesses need multiple rights

No single PRO covers the entire music industry. TheMusicLicence ensures legal coverage for the vast majority of commercially available music in the UK, but if you use music outside their catalogues or for special uses (e.g., live events, karaoke), you may need additional licensing.

UK copyright law for music licensing

Under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, playing music in public without the correct licence is copyright infringement. Even if you have purchased or streamed music legally for personal use, this does not make it legal for business use. Public performance licences are mandatory unless you only play royalty-free music or music that is out of copyright.

How to license music for commercial use in the UK

You must obtain licences directly from UK PROs

If you're playing music in a commercial setting in the UK, whether in a cafe, shop, salon, gym, or office, you are legally required to hold the appropriate public performance licences. These are issued by the UK's official performance rights organisations: PPL (Phonographic Performance Ltd) and PRS for Music. Together, they operate a joint licensing body called PPL PRS Ltd, which provides a single solution known as TheMusicLicence. Understanding these UK licensing PROs is crucial.

This licence is mandatory for most UK businesses playing music, regardless of the source (radio, CD, TV, or streaming). Crucially, TheMusicLicence must be obtained directly from PPL PRS Ltd, you cannot acquire this licensing through a third-party music provider or platform.

What TheMusicLicence covers

TheMusicLicence combines two sets of rights:

✔ PRS for Music: Covers the rights of songwriters, composers, and music publishers (the underlying musical composition and lyrics)

✔ PPL: Covers the rights of performers and record labels (the specific recording being played)

Holding this licence ensures that your business is legally permitted to use music in public or commercial spaces.

Licensing costs vary depending on factors such as:

✔ Business type and industry

✔ Floor space and speaker setup

✔ How the music is used (e.g. background vs. featured use)

✔ Number of employees or locations

Typical fees for small premises often range from £300 to £450 per year, but exact pricing will depend on your specific use case.

Summary: what's required to stay compliant

Requirement How to fulfil it
Public performance rights (PRS + PPL) Apply directly for TheMusicLicence via PPL PRS Ltd
Commercial-grade music service Use a platform like SoundMachine

Next steps

1. Apply for TheMusicLicence from PPL PRS Ltd.

2. Set up a licensed business music service like SoundMachine to control your sound environment, manage playlists, and enhance the atmosphere.

By doing both, your business will be legally covered and equipped with the tools to create a high-quality, consistent, and branded music experience for your customers.

How to get started with SoundMachine

Start with a free trial

Experience SoundMachine in your business with a 14-day free trial, no credit card needed. It's the perfect way to explore the platform risk-free and see how it fits your environment.

Pick the right plan for you

SoundMachine offers flexible plans to suit different business needs:

✔ Business - Ideal for single-location businesses that need a reliable and professional background music solution. This plan provides access to curated stations and core scheduling tools, making it simple to create the right atmosphere without complexity.

✔ Business Premium - Designed for businesses that want deeper control over their music. This plan unlocks the full music library, more than 500 curated stations, and advanced features like playlist importing from Spotify and Apple Music. Customers can choose to upgrade to Business Premium HD for high-definition audio streaming if enhanced sound quality is a priority.

✔ Enterprise - Built for large or multi-location businesses, the Enterprise plan includes all Business Premium features, including full control, scalability, and centralised management tools. The key distinction is the ability to create fully custom playlists tailored to your brand’s identity, along with access to enhanced support for more complex needs. This includes priority assistance and dedicated account management, making it the ideal choice for businesses that need a personalised music strategy and hands-on service across multiple locations.

Your monthly cost will depend on factors such as your venue's size, number of locations, licensing needs, playlist preferences, and whether you require advanced features like custom imports.

Get set up easily

SoundMachine works on desktop and mobile apps, as well as dedicated hardware players and compatible third-party systems. Whether you're using a simple tablet or a full-scale audio setup, integration is quick and straightforward.

Tailor and schedule your music

Use SoundMachine's scheduling tools to craft a music experience that matches your brand. You can adjust playlists by time of day, create different sound environments for separate areas, and fine-tune everything to suit your customer flow and atmosphere.

Licensing requirement in the UK

As mentioned, If your business is located in the UK, using a music service like SoundMachine is only one part of staying compliant. You are also legally required to hold TheMusicLicence, issued directly by PPL PRS Ltd. This licence covers public performance rights for both PRS for Music (songwriters, composers, and music publishers) and PPL (recording artists and record labels)

It is important to note that UK businesses also need to use a music service specifically licensed for business use, such as SoundMachine, not consumer products like Spotify. Even after obtaining TheMusicLicence, playing music from personal streaming services (e.g., Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music) in a business setting is against their terms and conditions and UK law. These services are only for private, non-commercial use, and their T&Cs explicitly prohibit playback in public or business environments.

Stay compliant and deliver a professional sound

Playing music in your business can greatly improve the customer experience, but only if it's done legally and consistently. In the UK, that means holding the correct public performance licences from PPL PRS Ltd, and using a platform like SoundMachine to manage and deliver your music professionally and legally.

SoundMachine gives you the tools to control your playlists, schedule music throughout the day, and maintain a consistent sound across all locations. When combined with the right licensing, it's a reliable and flexible solution for creating the right atmosphere in any commercial setting.

Need help getting started? Contact SoundMachine to learn how to streamline your music management and create a better listening experience for your customers.