It helps to know the difference between personal use (domestic) and a public performance. So, what are they exactly?
- Domestic use (personal use) – Playing or performing any music within a domestic setting e.g at home, with friends, at house gatherings, family parties etc.
- Public performance – Playing or performing any music outside of a domestic setting e.g streaming music for the benefit of staff and customers in a business or organisation. Please see our FAQ’s on Public Performance for more information.
Popular streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube, to name a few, are for personal use only. When you agree to their Terms and Conditions (T&Cs) you confirm that you will only use the service for personal use and not in any commercial business setting. Please refer to the T&Cs of these services for more information about the commercial usage of these streaming platforms.
To play or perform music in a public space or within your business and organisation (including via the use of a commercial streaming platform) you may need TheMusicLicence. This ensures permission is granted from the relevant copyright holders in relation to the vast majority of commercially available music. By purchasing a music licence, you can play or perform thousands of your favourite songs from the PPL & PRS for Music, repertoire of music.
Music Streaming for Business
One of the biggest benefits of playing music is its ability to enhance the overall experience of your business. Whether you run a coffee shop, retail store, office or bar, music can help create a welcoming and relaxing atmosphere, increasing customer satisfaction and employee productivity. Additionally, playing music may lead to an increase in foot traffic and encourage customers to stay longer, resulting in increased sales and revenue.*
When thinking about playing music for your staff and/or customers, turning on the radio may immediately come to mind, but there are other options to consider, such as hard disk background music services, digital jukeboxes or licensed streaming services for use in a commercial setting. There are a number of companies licensed by PPL and PRS for Music to provide these services to commercial businesses and they can help you tailor your music selection to fit your audience, and allow you to tailor your music taste to reflect your brand and customer preferences.
Details of these companies and the services they offer can be found here:
Practical, easily accessible and bespoke. Streaming made simple.
Streaming music has become an increasingly popular option for businesses of all sizes and industries. It offers a convenient and cost-effective way to create a pleasant atmosphere for customers, employees, and visitors. Once you’ve selected your preferred commercial platform, not only is it easy to set up, but it also provides access to a vast library of commercial music, allowing you to create and tailor the perfect playlist to reflect your brand and audience.
Ultimately, streaming music via a commercial platform can be an excellent option for businesses looking to enhance the overall experience. With it being easy to use, flexible, and affordable, it’s no wonder more and more businesses are turning to streaming music as a valuable tool for success.
