Licences for Playing Music in Public

If an individual or an organisation wishes to play a song or piece of music in public (i.e.to a wider group of people - for example on their business or organisations premises) it is classed as a public performance and permission must be obtained from the copyright owner, record company and performer of that song or piece of music before doing so. These permissions are known as music licences.

Who has to have music licences?

Any location or premises, outside of home, where music is played from clubs to concert halls, from discos to dentists' waiting rooms and from trains and taxis to takeaways. The owner/proprietor of the premises or vehicle is normally responsible for obtaining a music licence for the public performance of copyright music. If the person does not obtain the required licence they may risk infringing copyright and performers' rights.

PPL and PRS for Music are two different music licensing organisations with a single aim - to ensure music creators and performers are fairly paid for the public use of their music.

For further information see:

• |PRS - Performing Rights Society
• |PPL UK - Public Performance Licences
• |Music Works for You