Licensing
As the UK’s music licensing company for hundreds of thousands of performers and recording rightsholders, we license the use of recorded music on radio, television and some online services, as well as services that supply music for use in businesses.
We also license UK businesses and organisations to play recorded music in public through PPL PRS, our joint venture with PRS for Music.
What is a music licence?
Recorded music is protected by copyright. This means that, if you wish to include recorded music in a radio or TV broadcast, use it in an online service, or you are a music service that copies commercial music to create and supply specialised playlists for use in businesses, legal permission is needed from each and every recording rightsholder whose recordings you use.
PPL licences give you permission on behalf of the tens of thousands of recording rightsholders we represent, allowing you to use virtually all commercially-released recordings in the UK. We also license music videos through our sister company, VPL. This saves you from having to contact multiple companies or individuals directly.
If you want to play recorded music in public (for example, to staff or customers at your business premises), you’ll need a licence from PPL PRS.
Which licence is right for me?
Select the music usage you need, and we’ll let you know how to get a licence to play it.
I want to play music or music videos to colleagues and/or customers at a business, organisation or venue.
You will need TheMusicLicence from PPL PRS.
I want to play music on a commercial radio station.
You will need a Traditional Radio Licence from PPL.
I want to play music on a community radio station.
You will need a Joint Community Radio Licence from PPL and PRS for Music, administered by PPL.
I want to use music in online radio and services.
For online radio stations or simulcasts of over the air broadcasts, you will need a PPL Linear Webcast Licence.
For other online uses, including customised online radio and the streaming of 30-second audio clips, you may need a PPL licence or may need to contact individual rightsholders to obtain a licence. Our other online licences page can assist you in identifying the right route to obtain your licence.
I want to play music on a student radio station.
You will need a Student Radio Licence from PPL.
I want to play music on a hospital radio station.
You will need a Hospital Radio Licence from PPL.
I want to play music on a prison radio station.
You will need a Prison Radio Licence from PPL.
I want to play music on a temporary AM/FM service.
You will need a Short-term Restricted Service Licence from PPL.
I want to use and/or broadcast recorded music and/or music videos in TV and online audio-visual services.
For recorded music you may need one of our PPL licences relating to TV and online services.
For music video you may need one of our VPL licences relating to TV and online services.
I want to sell TV programmes containing recorded music and music videos
For recorded music and music videos you may need one of our Secondary Sales Licences.
I want to create and provide music services for businesses, organisations or venues by copying PPL repertoire.
You will need a Dubbing Licence.
What happens to the licence fees we collect?
After deduction of tax and costs, the licence fees are distributed to the performers and recording rightsholders we represent. We do not retain a profit for our services.
Here’s how it works…
1
We receive information on recorded music played by TV and radio broadcasters, music suppliers, UK businesses and other music licensing organisations.
We match this against the PPL Repertoire Database, which contains information about millions of commercially released recordings.
2
A royalty amount is allocated to a single recording in our Repertoire Database depending on how much it has been used by PPL’s licensees.
The amount paid is affected by a range of factors, such as which radio station or TV channel the recording has been played on, the amount of airplay it has received in public venues (like offices, shops or bars), and the size of the audience who heard it.
3
In most instances, the total royalty amount for a single recording is divided between the recording rightsholders and the qualifying performers.
This is done in accordance with PPL’s Distribution Rules, and the split is typically 50-50. Performer royalties are then usually divided between the performers listed on a single recording, based upon their contribution to that recording.