Switching on a radio in your shop, salon, café or workshop feels like the simplest, cheapest way to add some atmosphere. Unfortunately, in the eyes of UK copyright law, it is not the same as listening at home. The moment music can be heard by staff or customers in a workplace, you are putting on a "public performance" — and that usually needs a licence, even if the radio station already pays its own fees.
This guide is for UK business owners and managers — independent cafés, salons, gyms, shops, offices and similar venues — who want a plain-English answer to whether the radio needs a licence, what that licence is, and how the alternatives compare.
Direct answer: yes, in most cases. If you play the radio, TV audio, streaming, or recorded music where employees or the public can hear it, UK law treats that as a public performance. You normally need TheMusicLicence from PPL PRS unless you use a catalogue-specific provider and only play music covered by that provider.
If you already know your venue type, compare the music fit alongside the licence question: background music for retail, background music for salons, and music for cafes each need a different atmosphere even when the legal question starts in the same place.
Fast facts
| Question | Practical answer |
|---|---|
| Can a business play the radio for free? | Usually no. If staff or customers can hear it, treat it as a public-performance licence question. |
| Main UK licence body | PPL PRS sells TheMusicLicence for many UK business uses of mainstream recorded music. |
| TV vs music licence | A TV Licence and TheMusicLicence are separate checks; some businesses may need both. |
| Provider prices | Check current provider pages or Sonosfera pricing components; do not budget from old blog numbers. |
What the licence answer means
Yes, in most cases. If you play the radio (or any recorded music) where employees or the public can hear it, UK law treats that as a public performance of the music and the recording. To do it legally you normally need TheMusicLicence — a single licence sold jointly by PPL and PRS for Music, the two UK collecting societies. You can check coverage and the current price at pplprs.co.uk.
A few important definitions before we go further:
- Public performance means playing music anywhere that is not a purely domestic, family setting. A workplace counts, even if it is closed to the public.
- PRS for Music collects on behalf of songwriters, composers and music publishers (the people who wrote the song).
- PPL collects on behalf of record companies and performers (the people who recorded it).
- TheMusicLicence is the combined product that covers both in one payment, so you do not have to deal with PPL and PRS separately.
Why "the station already pays" is not enough
A common misunderstanding is that because a radio station already pays royalties, businesses are covered when they re-broadcast it. The radio station's licence covers its broadcast to the public. When you play that broadcast out loud in your premises, you are creating a separate public performance — and that performance is yours to license. The same logic applies to TV, streaming services, CDs, and playlists from a phone.
What TheMusicLicence does and does not cover
TheMusicLicence covers most "normal" use of music in a business: radio, TV audio, recorded music and streamed playlists played in your premises. The cost is based on factors such as how the music is used, the size of your space, and your audience, so there is no single flat figure that fits every venue. Rather than quote a number that may be out of date, check the current tariff for your situation directly at pplprs.co.uk.
What it generally does not cover:
- Live music or DJs performing on your premises (separate arrangements may apply).
- Watching live TV broadcasts, which is a different issue — see below.
- Music in commercial recordings you produce (for example, music in a video you create).
Don't forget the TV Licence
If you also have a television, or watch or stream live broadcasts on any device, you may need a separate TV Licence. The TV Licence and TheMusicLicence are two different things from two different organisations: the TV Licence covers watching live broadcast television, while TheMusicLicence covers the music itself being performed in public. Many businesses need both.
Where background-music services fit in
This is where dedicated business-music providers come in. Some sell music that is "royalty-free" or otherwise positioned so that you do not pay separate PPL/PRS fees for it; others provide mainstream/chart music and assume you hold (or still need) TheMusicLicence. The distinction matters enormously, so always read each provider's own licensing page rather than the marketing headline.
The snapshot below summarises how several UK-facing services position themselves, using publicly available information. Treat it as a starting point for your own checks, not a legal guarantee — pricing, contract terms and exact rights handling change, so verify each one at source before you rely on it.
| Provider | Price-check path | How they position licensing | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Background Sounds | Check the provider page before budgeting. | Royalty-free, positioned as non-PRS/PPL; certificate on request | Confirm fit for your venue type; treat as product positioning, not legal advice |
| RadioSparx UK | Check the provider page before budgeting. | Royalty-free background music for UK businesses | Confirm the no-PRS/PPL claim against their current licence terms |
| Tribe of Noise for Business | Check the provider page before budgeting. | Legal alternative to consumer streaming and to some traditional licensing admin | Check cancellation terms and exact rights coverage |
| Auracle Sound | Check the provider page before budgeting. | Licensed background music for business | Confirm exactly how PRS/PPL is handled for your use |
| Soundtrack | Quote / plan-led | UK page states public-performance rights are not included; advises getting TheMusicLicence where applicable | Good example of a service that expects you to hold TheMusicLicence separately |
| Startle | Quote / demo-led | Explains UK businesses usually need PPL/PRS | No public price; do not assume it removes your PPL/PRS obligation |
| Imagesound | Quote-led | Explains PRS/PPL roles; offers original-artist and royalty-free options | Pricing and exact licence pass-through are quote-specific |
The pattern is clear: services split into those that try to remove the PPL/PRS question for you and those that play mainstream music and expect you to hold TheMusicLicence. Neither approach is "right" — it depends on whether you want recognisable chart music or are happy with a curated library that sidesteps the licensing overhead.
How Sonosfera fits
Sonosfera is a background-music service built for venues that want good music without the licensing headache or the ongoing chart-music fees. If you only play Sonosfera's own catalogue, you are not relying on mainstream radio repertoire, which is what the PPL/PRS tariffs are built around. As with any provider, the honest caveat is the same one we apply to everyone above: if you also play the radio, mainstream streaming, live music, DJs, uploads or third-party playlists, those uses are separate and you should license them accordingly. To weigh it up, see country-aware pricing and compare the field on the UK comparison page.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a licence to play the radio in a small shop with no customers in yet?
Generally yes. The licence requirement is triggered by music being audible to employees or the public in a workplace, not by how many customers are present. Even staff-only areas can count. Confirm your specific situation at pplprs.co.uk.
Is TheMusicLicence the same as a TV Licence?
No. TheMusicLicence (from PPL and PRS for Music) covers the public performance of music. A TV Licence is a separate requirement for watching or streaming live broadcast television. A business with both a radio and a TV may need both.
What if I only play "royalty-free" or AI-generated music?
Some services provide music specifically licensed so that you do not pay separate PPL/PRS fees. If that genuinely fits your use, it can remove the public-performance licensing question for that music. Read the provider's licensing terms and any certificate carefully, and remember it only covers their catalogue — playing the radio or mainstream playlists alongside it is a separate matter.
How much does TheMusicLicence cost?
There is no single price. The fee depends on how you use music and the size and type of your premises, and rates are reviewed over time. Get the current figure for your venue directly from pplprs.co.uk rather than relying on a quoted number that may be outdated.
Sources
- TheMusicLicence (PPL PRS) — PPL and PRS for Music
- Background Sounds pricing — Background Sounds
- Background Sounds — Background Sounds
- Startle — Startle
- Startle music — Startle
- Imagesound music — Imagesound
Next step
If you want recognisable atmosphere without relying on radio or consumer playlists, review country-aware pricing and compare your options first on the UK comparison page and in the best UK business-music services guide.
