Do I Need a Music Licence to Play the Radio in My Business?

It's free in your car. It's free on your phone. It's free in your kitchen.

So surely it's free to play the radio in your shop, right?

Wrong.

In the UK, playing the radio in a business environment is one of the most common ways owners accidentally break copyright law.

Here is the simple truth: Yes, you need a music licence to play the radio. (For the full picture, see our guide: Can I Play Spotify in My Salon?)

Why Isn't It Free?

When you listen in your car, that is "private use." The radio station has already paid royalties to broadcast the music to you privately.

When you play that same station in a salon, cafe, or shop, you are re-broadcasting it to the public. This is a "public performance."

Because your business benefits from the atmosphere the music creates (happier staff, relaxed customers), the law requires you to pay the artists for that benefit.

That means you need TheMusicLicence from PPL PRS.

"But I Have a TV Licence!"

This is the biggest confusion we see.

A TV Licence (paid to the BBC) covers the cost of the infrastructure and the BBC programming. It allows you to legally receive the broadcast signal.

A Music Licence (paid to PPL PRS) covers the copyright of the music protected within that broadcast.

If your TV plays any music—theme tunes, background music in soaps, adverts with jingles—you need a PPL PRS licence on top of your TV licence.

Key takeaway: A TV Licence allows you to turn the TV on. A Music Licence allows you to let the public hear the music coming out of it.

The Cost of the Radio

Many business owners are shocked to learn that playing the radio costs exactly the same as playing CDs or a commercial Spotify playlist. If you have a small salon, the licence will cost you roughly £335 per year.

That's nearly £30 a month.

Ask yourself: Is listening to adverts worth £30 a month?

Commercial radio is full of interruptions. News. Traffic. Ads for other businesses. Inane DJ chatter. You are paying a premium price for a sub-par experience. And if you skip the licence, the fines can reach thousands of pounds.

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

What About "Music on Hold"?

Have you ever called a business and heard a catchy pop song while you waited? They needed a licence for that.

If you play the radio down the phone line to customers on hold, you need a separate "Music on Hold" licence. PPL PRS charges for this separately.

The Cheaper Alternative

It sounds crazy, but it is often cheaper to pay for a dedicated background music service than to play the free radio.

Sonosfera costs £19.99/month (£167.88/year). The PPL PRS licence for radio costs ~£335/year.

By switching to Sonosfera, you:

1. Save ~£155 a year.
2. Remove the adverts.
3. Control the vibe (playing "Coffee Shop Chill" instead of "Heavy Metal Hour").
4. Stay legal. Need help setting up your first system?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I listen to the radio in the staff room? A: Usually, yes. If the staff room is strictly private designated area where customers never go, it may be exempt. However, PPL PRS often argues that playing music to employees improves morale and productivity, thus requiring a licence. It's a grey area, but strictly speaking, "workplaces" need a licence.

Q: What if I wear headphones? A: If you or your staff listen to music on personal headphones, you do NOT need a licence. The "public" cannot hear it.

Q: Does this apply to digital radio (DAB)? A: Yes. FM, AM, DAB, and Internet Radio all count as broadcasts requiring a licence.

Related Reading

• PRS and PPL licence explained for UK business owners
• Is royalty-free music actually free?

Stop paying £300 to listen to adverts. Switch to Sonosfera for £19.99/month. Cheaper than the radio. Better for business.