Phonographic Performance Limited - Playing Music in Public

Playing Music in Public

Music licensing for business

Any business that plays recorded music within PPL’s repertoire in public, such as a shop, bar, office, restaurant, gym, community building, not-for-profit organisation – or activities such as dance classes will need to have a PPL licence.

A PPL licence is required when recorded music, within PPL’s repertoire, including radio and TV, is played in public. There is no statutory definition of 'playing in public' (also sometimes referred to as 'public performance') but the UK courts have given guidance on its meaning and ruled that it is any playing of music outside of a domestic setting – so, for example, playing recorded music at a workplace, public event or in the course of any business activities is considered to be 'playing in public. No licence is required for listening on headphones. In contrast, any recorded music being played as part of domestic home life or when there is an audience entirely of friends and/or family (such as at a private family party) does not require a PPL licence.

A PPL licence gives the licence holder the permission to play recorded music from PPL's repertoire (the vast majority of commercially released music in the UK). Playing music that is not in copyright does not require a PPL licence.

Music licensing for radio broadcasting

PPL licenses radio stations based in the UK, Isle of Man and Channel Islands to use recorded music within its repertoire in all forms of radio, from traditional FM/AM broadcasting to satellite and online radio streaming.

Music licensing for television broadcasting

With the relevant PPL music licence, broadcasters can use recorded music within PPL’s repertoire and/or music videos in their programming with the permission of the performer and copyright owner.

Applications for music licences can be made online at ppluk.com