What Music Can I Play Without a Licence in the UK?
TLDR: What music can I play without a licence in the UK? Truth be told though, not very much. The general rule is you need a music licence to play live or recorded music in your business, which includes pretty much anything from Spotify, to Apple Music, to CDs or the radio. The only exceptions are genuinely public domain tunes or properly licenced royalty free music that allows you to use it commercially. In the UK, most businesses need a PRS PPL licence or a licenced business streaming service.
Want to give your customers the best experience possible? Playing some background music in your shop, salon, café, gym or office can make all the difference to the atmosphere.
But what music can I play without a licence in the UK?
Maybe you just assume that using Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube on your computer speakers or digital devices is a-ok. Or, perhaps you just stream the radio from time to time. Many business owners do, but the truth is it’s often not allowed.
So do you actually need a music licence? Can you just play recorded music in public without one? Can you get away with playing royalty free music in your shop? Is there a PRS licence loophole?
This guide spells out exactly how music in your business is treated by UK copyright law, what is allowed and what could end up costing you thousands in fines.
Do I Need a Music Licence to Play Music in My Business?
The answer in most cases is yes.
Under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, playing live or recorded music in public counts as a public performance – that’s anything from playing background music through your computer speakers to a music channel or even the radio. If your customers or staff can hear the music, it is considered music usage in public.
This applies whether you are:
• Play live music • Play recorded music • Play live or recorded music • Stream from Apple Music or Spotify • Use CDs or downloads • Stage live music events • Provide specially featured entertainment
Pretty much all commercial premises need a music licence.
Who Issues Music Licences in the UK?
In the UK, music licences are issued by PRS for Music and PPL
PRS for Music, also known as the Performing Rights Society, is in charge of collecting royalties for songwriters, composers and publishers. PPL, or Phonographic Performance Limited, collects royalties for record companies and performers. They work together through a joint venture called PPL PRS Ltd to issue combined music licences to businesses.
When you pay for a music licence, the money goes directly to the rights holders – that’s the musicians, songwriters, record companies and other copyright holders. They get paid when their songs and sound recordings are played in public.
If you are playing commercial music in your business, then chances are you need a PRS PPL licence.
Why You Cannot Use Spotify or Apple Music in Your Business
We’ve all been tempted to just use our personal Spotify or Apple Music account to save some cash. But the truth is these services are only licensed for personal use.
Their terms and conditions are pretty clear on this – it’s private, non-commercial use only. So, you can’t play Spotify in your shop, salon or café – it’s breaching their contract and breaking copyright law at the same time.
There’s no Spotify business loophole unless you use a licensed business streaming service.
Spotify
“As specified in our Terms & Conditions, Spotify Free and Premium accounts are for personal, non-commercial use only.”
iTunes
“You shall be authorised to use iTunes Products only for personal, non-commercial use. For details of your rights and restrictions on your rights to use the iTunes.”
Napster
“The Services provided through the Application may be used for your personal, non-commercial use only. You agree not to (i) reproduce, record, retransmit, redistribute, disseminate, sell, rent, lend, broadcast, make available, communicate to the public, publicly perform…”
What music can I play without a licence?
What’s the Fine for Playing Music Without a Licence in the UK?
Now this is where many businesses get themselves in a lot of trouble.
If you play recorded music in public without the correct licence, you could find yourself being sued by the copyright holder and having to pay damages. The fines for playing music without a licence can be eye-watering – we’ve seen businesses fined thousands of pounds.
And the key thing to remember here is that this applies even if you’ve legally bought the songs. Buying a CD or downloading only gives you the right to listen to it yourself; it doesn’t give you permission to play it in public.
What Music Can I Play Without a Licence UK?
So, to the million-dollar question.
There are some very specific circumstances where you can play without a licence, but they are few and far between.
Public Domain Music
Public domain music is stuff where the copyright in the composition has expired. This generally only applies to music that was composed before 1922.
But here’s the thing – just because the composition may be copyright-free, the sound recording itself might still be protected. So, a modern orchestra recording a Mozart piece is still protected under copyright.
In practice, this makes public domain music quite tricky to use safely in most commercial settings unless you are 100% certain both the composition and the recording are copyright-free.
Royalty Free Music
Royalty free music is often misunderstood. People think it means it’s completely free of charge. But actually it means you pay once for a licence that allows you to use the music commercially without having to pay ongoing royalties.
What music can I play without a licence UK?If you’re lucky the licence lets you play royalty free background music in your shop without needing to get a PRS PPL licence.
However, you wont’t find any mainstream commercial songs, and the quality can vary. For some places, that’s fine. For others, it just doesn’t create the right vibe.
Always make sure to check the small print before playing royalty-free music in your business – the licence terms can be pretty finicky.
Playing the Radio
Lots of business owners wonder if they can play the radio at work without getting a licence.
The simple answer is no, you can’t. Even though you can listen to the radio for free at home, playing recorded music in public through a radio broadcast still requires a music licence in most shops and restaurants. PRS and PPL still collect royalties on usage like that.
There are a few very specific cases where exemptions might apply, but for normal retail or hospitality places, it’s not really worth bothering with.
When IS a Music Licence Not Required?
There are a few situations where exemptions might apply under UK copyright law.
For example, if you’re playing music in a completely private space where the public can’t get in and it’s not being used for any commercial reasons, you might get away without needing a licence. Certain educational or religious uses have their own rules too.
But for most shops, gyms, offices and hospitality places, you do need a licence for music in public.
How Much Does a Music Licence Cost?
Costing a music licence is a bit of a puzzle. It depends on how big your premises are, what kind of business you run, how you use the music, and whether it’s background music or live entertainment.
Small businesses are often worried it’s going to break the bank, but in a lot of cases, it’s actually pretty manageable and far cheaper than the fine you could get hit with for not having a licence.
If you’re looking to get a quote for a music licence in the UK, your best bet is to get in touch with PPL PRS or use a music streaming service that bundles the licence into its subscription.
How Can I Legally Play Music in My Business?
If you want to play music in your business without getting into trouble, you’ve got two easy options.
First, you get a PRS PPL licence directly – that covers all commercial music in public and makes sure the rights holders get paid.
Alternatively, you can use a specialist music streaming service designed for business use – these cover all the licensing for you, take away ads, and protect you from getting sued.
Our Licensed Music Streaming Service for UK Businesses
If you want to have all the hassle taken away from dealing with PRS and PPL, we offer a complete licensed music streaming service just for UK shops and businesses.
We provide the hardware and software you need to play fully licensed commercial music in your shop, with no worry about copyright issues.
Our service gives you access to loads of music channels across loads of different genres, all of which are designed for public performance and screened for any explicit content.
Our dynamic playlists mean:
No repetition\
Fresh new tracks every day\
A constantly changing soundtrack\
Music that’s recognisably from the real artists\
Professional sound quality
Because our system uses a big, licensed music library and shuffles tracks every day, your atmosphere stays unique and interesting all the time.
If you’re not sure which music licence you need, or want a hassle-free alternative to doing it all yourself, our fully compliant music streaming service makes sure you’re covered under UK copyright law. We specialise in helping lots of different businesses in retail, hospitality and leisure to stay safe while creating the perfect background music experience.
Final Thoughts
Playing background music is a great way to boost the atmosphere in your shop, get customers to hang around longer, and make your brand look more welcoming. But you’ve got to make sure you’re doing it the right way.
For your own peace of mind, either get the right PRS PPL licence or use a fully licensed commercial streaming service.
That way, the musicians get paid, the record companies get their royalties, and you stay out of trouble.
For industry-specific advice, updates on music licence costs, and the latest releases, check out our blog. We put up music licensing updates and answer common questions about playing music in public in lots of different business sectors.
A better option is to use a specialised streaming service such as AuracleSound.If you would like to get the latest music, fully licensed for public performance, and never risk any legal issues, get a free-one week trial.
Frequently Asked Questions About Music Licences in the UK
What music can I play without a licence in the UK?
Not much, to be honest.
In most cases, you need a licence to play live or recorded music in public – that includes Spotify, Apple Music, CDs, downloads and the radio.
You can only play music without a licence if it’s genuinely in the public domain or properly licensed royalty free music that lets you use it commercially. For most UK businesses, you’ll need a PRS PPL licence or a licensed music streaming app.
Do I need a licence to play Spotify at work?
Yes, you do.
Spotify, Apple Music, and the rest – all those streaming services are only licensed for personal, non-commercial use. So don’t go thinking you can just stream them in your shop, salon, office, or gym without running up against the terms of service and UK copyright law.
If you want to play music in your business, you’ll need a PRS PPL licence or use a commercial music service that’s specifically designed for public performance.
Are there any loopholes in the PRS licence?
No – there just aren’t.
You can’t rely on some sort of technicality to avoid paying for a music licence when you’re playing commercial music in public. If customers or staff can hear recorded music just going about their day, in most cases, that’s going to mean you need a licence under UK copyright law.
Do you need a licence to play the radio on the job?
More often than not, yes.
You can listen to the radio for free at home, but the minute you’re playing recorded music in public through the radio broadcast, in most cases you’ll need a PRS PPL licence for your business.
How much does it cost to get a music licence in the UK?
The cost depends on a lot of factors – the size of your premises, what kind of business you run and how the music is being used.
Small businesses might find that a music licence is more affordable than they’re expecting. PRS PPL Ltd will work out just how much it is based on things like the square footage of your place, how many speakers you’ve got and whether the music is background or if you’re using it as the main form of entertainment.
Small businesses might find that a music licence is more affordable than they’re expecting. PRS PPL Ltd will work out just how much it is based on things like the square footage of your place, how many speakers you’ve got and whether the music is background or if you’re using it as the main form of entertainment.
What happens if you get caught playing music without a licence?
Well, you’re in for a world of trouble. You’ll be facing legal action and the possibility of court orders, and the fines can be in the thousands – sometimes even more.
If you’re caught infringing copyright music law, you might also get hit with damages and backdated licence fees, to boot.
Can I play royalty free music without a licence?
Hmmm, technically yes, but only if the licence agreement specifically says you can use the music commercially in public.
Just because something is royalty free doesn’t mean it’s licence free. Be sure to check the terms and conditions carefully – it’s not always a given that you’re good to go.
Can I play classical music without a licence?
Maybe – but it depends on the circumstances.
Some classical music is in the public domain – but modern recordings of those classical pieces are still protected. To avoid needing a licence, you need to find a composition that’s copyright free and a recording that’s in the clear too.
Do my shop need a licence to play music?
Yes, usually.
If you’re playing music in public areas of the shop where customers or staff can hear it, then you need a music licence under UK copyright law.
Do I need a licence for a live event?
If you’re staging a live music event or using specially featured entertainment, you’ll probably need a music licence – but be aware that the rules might work differently to the ones for background music, so do double check with PRS PPL Ltd or go for a licensed commercial service.
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