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Music and entertainment licensing

TheMusicLicence requirements for playing background music, hosting live performances, and DJ events in hospitality venues including costs, what's covered, and how to comply with PPL PRS.

Guide summary

Get a music licence from PPL PRS before playing any music in your business. You also may need an entertainment licence from your local council. Playing music without a licence is copyright infringement and can lead to fines or legal action.

  • Get TheMusicLicence from PPL PRS before playing music in your venue
  • Costs range from £150 to over £3,000 per year depending on venue type and size
  • Apply online – takes effect immediately
  • Renew your licence every year
  • Check if you need a separate entertainment licence from your local council
  • Entertainment licence costs £100 to £1,905 and takes 6 to 8 weeks to get
  • Live and recorded music between 8am and 11pm in venues up to 500 people may be exempt from entertainment licence
  • Get a commercial TV licence (£180 per year) if you show TV in your venue
  • Tell PPL PRS if you host DJ nights, karaoke, or live music so they apply the correct tariff
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When you need a music licence

Under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, you need permission from copyright holders to play or perform music in public. This includes virtually all commercial music use in hospitality venues.

You need TheMusicLicence if you play background music, host live performances, DJ sets, karaoke nights, or screen films containing music.

Exception: You do not need a licence to play royalty-free music that is not protected by copyright.

Entertainment licence under Licensing Act 2003

In addition to copyright licensing through PPL PRS, you may need regulatory approval under the Licensing Act 2003 for certain types of entertainment.

Television in business premises

If you show television content in your hospitality venue, you need appropriate TV licensing for commercial use.

Live music and special featured entertainment

TheMusicLicence covers both background music and live performances, but different tariffs apply depending on how music is featured.

Live music events

For live music events such as bands or solo artists performing, PPL PRS typically charges a percentage of ticket sales or a fixed fee per event. This can be an economical way to generate custom while supporting live talent.

Special Featured Entertainment (SFE) tariffs

The SFE tariffs cover DJ sets, discos, and dance events where recorded music is the primary entertainment. PPL applies SFE tariffs to venues including nightclubs, pubs, bars, restaurants, cafes, and hotels.

If you host DJ nights, discos, or events where recorded music is specially featured (rather than background ambience), inform PPL PRS so they can apply the correct tariff to your licence.

Karaoke and open mic nights

Karaoke machines and open mic events involve both recorded and live performance elements. These are covered by TheMusicLicence, but you should specify these activities when applying so PPL PRS can ensure appropriate coverage.

Compliance and enforcement

Playing music in your business without TheMusicLicence is copyright infringement and can result in legal action.

If you are found to play music without a licence, you can be fined through legal proceedings, required to pay backdated licence fees, and subject to an injunction preventing future music use.

PPL PRS actively monitors compliance and will contact businesses suspected of operating without a licence.

Integration with alcohol licensing

Music licensing and alcohol licensing are separate legal requirements, but they often overlap in hospitality venues.

Since the Live Music Act 2012 and the Legislative Reform (Entertainment Licensing) Order 2014, many music performances are deregulated for Licensing Act purposes:

  • Live unamplified music between 8am and 11pm is deregulated
  • Live amplified music for audiences of no more than 500 between 8am and 11pm is deregulated if on premises with an alcohol licence
  • Recorded music between 8am and 11pm is deregulated on licensed premises for audiences of no more than 500 (under the 2014 Order)

Important: These deregulations only remove the requirement for Licensing Act permission. You still need TheMusicLicence from PPL PRS for copyright purposes. They are separate legal requirements.