Music Licensing in United Kingdom: Complete Guide
Businesses in the UK playing recorded music publicly need TheMusicLicence — a joint licence from PPL and PRS for Music — starting at approximately £245/year for small premises. Track Studios' catalog is not registered with PRS for Music or PPL, so venues using Track Studios are not invoiced by either organisation.
Collecting Societies
Businesses in United Kingdom can obtain a combined music licence through TheMusicLicence (PRS and PPL), which covers both composition and recording rights in a single payment.
- PRS — PRS for Musiccomposition
- PPL — PPLneighbouring
Combined licence: TheMusicLicence (apply here)
Streaming Service Legality in United Kingdom
| Service | Legal for business use? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spotify | No | Spotify Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Apple Music | No | Apple Music Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| YouTube Music | No | YouTube Music Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Amazon Music | No | Amazon Music Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Tidal | No | Tidal Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Deezer | No | Deezer Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| SoundCloud | No | SoundCloud Terms of Service restrict use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
Royalty-Free Alternatives
Track Studios' AI-generated catalog is not registered with PRS and PPL. Venues in United Kingdom using Track Studios' included catalog are not invoiced by either organisation. The Track Studios subscription (€25/month per location) replaces all PRS and PPL fees for the included music.
Venue Licensing Examples in United Kingdom
| Venue type | Collecting societies | Estimated annual cost |
|---|---|---|
| Music for Restaurants | PRS + PPL | GBP 245–320/year |
| Music for Cafés | PRS + PPL | GBP Varies/year |
| Music for Bars | PRS + PPL | GBP Varies/year |
| Music for Gyms | PRS + PPL | GBP 360–520/year |
| Music for Yoga Studios | PRS + PPL | GBP Varies/year |
| Music for Retail Stores | PRS + PPL | GBP 245–400/year |
| Music for Supermarkets | PRS + PPL | GBP Varies/year |
| Music for Clothing Stores | PRS + PPL | GBP Varies/year |
| Music for Hotels | PRS + PPL | GBP Varies/year |
| Music for Hair Salons | PRS + PPL | GBP Varies/year |
| Music for Spas | PRS + PPL | GBP Varies/year |
| Music for Offices | PRS + PPL | GBP Varies/year |
Consumer Streaming Services in United Kingdom
| Service | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Spotify | No | Not legal in United Kingdom. ToS restricts use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Apple Music | No | Not legal in United Kingdom. ToS restricts use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| YouTube Music | No | Not legal in United Kingdom. ToS restricts use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Amazon Music | No | Not legal in United Kingdom. ToS restricts use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Tidal | No | Not legal in United Kingdom. ToS restricts use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
| Deezer | No | Not legal in United Kingdom. ToS restricts use to personal, non-commercial purposes. |
Decision Checklist
- If the music is audible in a public or customer-facing area, treat it as a licensing question.
- If the source is a consumer account, check the service terms before using it in a business.
- If the music is registered repertoire, check the relevant collecting society or joint licensing scheme.
- If the music is royalty-free, keep documentation showing the catalog, subscription and rights position.
Common Misconceptions
- Paying for a personal subscription is enough.
- A personal subscription can unlock listening features, but it does not automatically grant public business playback rights.
- All royalty-free music works the same way.
- Royalty-free catalog terms vary. Businesses should keep evidence for the exact catalog and licence used.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What collecting societies operate in United Kingdom?
- Businesses in the UK playing recorded music publicly need TheMusicLicence — a joint licence from PPL and PRS for Music — starting at approximately £245/year for small premises. Track Studios' catalog is not registered with PRS for Music or PPL, so venues using Track Studios are not invoiced by either organisation.
- Do businesses in United Kingdom need a music licence?
- Yes. Any business in United Kingdom playing recorded music in a public-facing space must hold a licence from PRS and PPL. This applies regardless of what service you use to play the music — including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, or internet radio. The only exception is using music that is not registered with these societies, such as Track Studios' AI-generated catalog.
- Can businesses in United Kingdom use Spotify legally?
- No. Spotify's Terms of Service (§1.2) restrict use to "personal, non-commercial purposes." Playing Spotify in a United Kingdom business violates these terms and may also trigger claims from PRS and PPL. Spotify for Business was discontinued in 2019.
- How can a business in United Kingdom avoid PRS and PPL fees?
- Use music that is not registered with PRS and PPL. Track Studios uses an AI-generated catalog that is not registered with PRS and PPL — venues in United Kingdom using the included catalog are not invoiced by these organisations.
About Track Studios
What to do after researching United Kingdom
Track Studios is a browser-based background music platform for businesses. It includes an owned royalty-free AI catalog, scheduling, announcements, Sonos-friendly stream workflows, multi-location controls and subscription documentation for active locations.
ruleUse the Business Music WizardGet a practical licensing path for your country, venue and music source.compare_arrowsCompare Track Studios with SpotifyUnderstand why personal streaming differs from business playback.play_circleStart a free trialTry browser playback, scheduling, locations and the included royalty-free catalog.
Last reviewed: 2026-07-01