Music Licensing for Dentists, Vets & Medical Practices
Direct answer: Yes, every UK medical practice playing background music needs TheMusicLicence from PPL PRS Ltd. A GP, dental, or vet waiting room is a public space under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Playing the radio, CDs, or any streaming service without a licence is copyright infringement — regardless of how few people hear it.
Fast facts
- TheMusicLicence starts from approximately £238.33/year + VAT for small practices (billed jointly by PPL PRS Ltd).
- A dental surgery playing radio without a licence can be backdated up to 6 years of unpaid fees.
- CQC inspections do not cover music licensing — PPL PRS run entirely separate enforcement visits.
- Music at 60–80 BPM has been clinically shown to reduce pre-procedure patient anxiety.
- Sonosfera costs £19.99/month — all commercial licensing included, no PPL PRS fees required.
The sound of a drill. The bark of a nervous dog. The silence of twenty people trying not to look at each other.
Waiting rooms are stressful places.
Most practice managers know that playing background music is essential. It masks the clinical sounds, fills the awkward silence, and actively lowers patient heart rates.
But playing the radio in a medical setting comes with two problems:
- Ads for junk food or competitors (not ideal).
- The Law (you need a licence).
Here is everything a Practice Manager needs to know about music licensing in the UK healthcare sector. (For the broader picture, see Can I Play Spotify in My Salon?)
"Does a Waiting Room Count as Public?"
Yes.
Under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, playing music outside of a domestic circle constitutes a "public performance."
A waiting room—whether for a GP, a dentist, a physio, or a vet—is a public space. If you play commercial music (radio, CDs, Spotify, Apple Music), you legally need TheMusicLicence from PPL PRS.
The cost is typically based on your square footage and patient capacity, often starting around £300 per year.
Please, Stop Playing the Radio
We visit hundreds of practices. Usually, the receptionist has the local radio station on.
Consider the patient experience. They are nervous about a root canal. They are sitting in your chair. And suddenly, a loud, jarring advert for car insurance blares out, followed by a news bulletin about a health crisis.
