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:

1. Ads for junk food or competitors (not ideal).
2. 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.

Radio is designed to grab attention. Waiting room music should do the opposite.

It should be invisible. It should be a soft, consistent blanket of sound that smooths over the edges of anxiety. And the radio itself still needs a licence.

Want to skip the complexity? Try Sonosfera free for 14 days — £19.99/month, all licensing included.

The Science of Anxiety Reduction

Studies show that music with a tempo of 60-80 BPM (beats per minute) mimics the human resting heart rate and can significantly reduce anxiety levels in pre-operative patients.

• For Dentists: "Spa" or "Ambient" genres work best to mask the high-frequency sound of tools.
• For Vets: Classical music and soft reggae (surprisingly) have been shown to calm dogs and cats.

You cannot get this control with the radio. You get whatever the DJ chooses.

A Cheaper, Calmer Alternative

For a medical practice, spending £300+ on a licence to play suboptimal music is a poor investment.

Sonosfera offers a dedicated solution for healthcare environments. Cost: £19.99/month (£167.88/year). Licence: Included (Exempt from PPL PRS). Music: Ad-free, calming, instrumental.

We offer playlists specifically designed for high-stress environments:

• "Calm & Focus": Instrumental productivity music.
• "Spa Luxury": Deep ambient textures.
• "Piano Chill": Soft, unintrusive melodies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need a licence for music in the treatment rooms? A: Yes. If music is played during the appointment (even on a small speaker), it is a public performance.

Q: Does my CQC inspection cover music licensing? A: No. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) looks at patient safety and care. However, PPL PRS inspectors are separate and can fine you for copyright infringement.

Q: Can I play "Royalty Free" CDs? A: Yes, if you buy CDs that are specifically "Royalty Free," you can play them without a PPL PRS licence. However, you are then limited to a few discs on repeat, which drives reception staff mad. Sonosfera gives you streaming variety without the licence fee.

Q: What about TVs with subtitles? A: If the volume is off, you generally don't need a music licence (but check your TV licence). If the volume is on—even low—you need TheMusicLicence.

Related Reading

• How to set up background music for your business
• PRS and PPL licence explained for UK business owners
• Yoga studio music licensing: what wellness instructors need to know

Create a calmer practice today. Try Sonosfera free for 14 days. Legal. Soothing. Professional.