Playing Music in your Practice

By Tony Gavin

5 min

February 01, 2022

If you currently play music or are thinking about playing music in your clinic waiting room, it is essential to have a music licence under Copyright legislation. This includes any background music that is played on the radio, on CDs/MP3s/DVDs/Tapes or on TV (even if you have a TV licence).

You will also need a music licence should you use copyrighted music when a caller is on hold on a telephone call.

Under UK law, usually any copyrighted music played in public requires the consent of the copyright owner.

In order to be granted this permission, you are usually required to have TheMusicLicense which is issued by PPL PRS. Previously, organisations and businesses had to obtain separate music licenses from PPL and PRS for Music, however they have now formed a single license together.

Who are PPL PRS?

PPL PRS collect licence fees from UK organisations and buisnesses on behalf of their parent companies, PPL and PRS for Music.

PRS for Music distributes music licence fees for the use of musical compositions and lyrics on behalf of songwriters, composers and publishers. PPL distributes the music licence fees on behalf of record companies and performers for the use of recorded music.

There are a number of tariffs to licence the use of music depending on how the music is being used, including whether it is on hold music or being broadcast as recorded music.

It is very beneficial to collect as much information as possible before contacting PPL PRS to obtain a licence to make your experience go as smoothly as possible and save yourself money. After all, knowledge is power!

Firstly, before you contact PPL PRS you should know what kind of licence you are required to have.

What licence(s) should I have?

I have a television in my waiting room:

  • A television licence
  • TheMusicLicence

I have a radio playing music in my waiting room:

  • TheMusicLicence

I play music from a tape/CD/MP3/DVD:

  • TheMusicLicence

I play copyrighted music when a caller is on hold on the telephone:

  • TheMusicLicence

Tariffs and costs

The cost of TheMusicLicence is dependant on various factors. This includes your type of venue and how you use music in your day-to-day operations, whether it be for background purposes or specially featured entertainment.

In the majority of cases, a PPL and PRS for Music tariff will apply to your music licence. Tariffs are set separately and independently by PPL and PRS for Music.

PPL Licence (Background Music Tariff – Waiting Rooms/Reception Areas) effective from 01 September 2019 to 31 August 2020.

The fee for the PPL Licence is usually £134.63 (excluding VAT) per area/waiting room. However, if you have been playing sound recordings without obtaining or renewing a licence firstly, the fee of £134.63 is subject to a 50% surcharge. Further information regarding this tariff can be found on the PPL PRS website here – https://pplprs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/PPL-Tariff-PPLPP085-WaitingRooms-Reception-Areas-2019.pdf

PRS Licence (Small Premises Tariff) effective from 1st November 2019 https://pplprs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/PRS-for-Music-Tariff-SP-Small-Premises-2020.pdf

If you have not obtained TheMusicLicence before you play music, you will be charged the higher royalty rate for the first year of the licence. The higher royalty rate is the standard rate plus 50%.

*Please note the tariff and charges information above is intended as a guide only and there may be other tariffs applied accordingly*

For further details regarding TheMusicLicence, please visit www.pplprs.co.uk