PRS and PPL Licence Explained for UK Business Owners
Direct answer: PRS for Music covers songwriters and composers (the melody and lyrics). PPL covers record labels and performers (the actual recording). When you play any track in your business, you use both rights simultaneously — so UK law requires you to pay both fees, now combined as a single bill called TheMusicLicence.
Fast facts
- PRS = Performing Right Society — collects for songwriters and publishers.
- PPL = Phonographic Performance Limited — collects for record labels and session musicians.
- TheMusicLicence combines both fees; a small business typically pays ~£300–£400/year + VAT.
- Playing the radio, CDs, or Spotify in your business all trigger the same licensing obligation.
- Sonosfera (£19.99/month) uses direct licensing — no PRS, no PPL, no TheMusicLicence needed.
PRS vs PPL at a glance
| PRS for Music | PPL | |
|---|---|---|
| What it covers | Song composition (lyrics, melody) | Sound recording (the audio file) |
| Who it pays | Songwriters, composers, publishers | Record labels, session musicians |
| Typical annual fee (small biz) | ~£150–£200 + VAT | ~£130–£180 + VAT |
If you have ever received a letter from "PPL PRS Ltd" demanding money, your first reaction was probably confusion.
"I thought I already paid for a music licence?" "Why are there two names?" "Is this a scam?"
It's not a scam. It's just complicated.
Here is the plain English explanation of the UK's music licensing system that no one ever bothers to give you. (If you're wondering whether your business is at risk, start with our guide: Can I Play Spotify in My Salon?)
Two Halves of a Song
To understand the bill, you have to understand copyright. Every piece of recorded music has two separate copyrights:
-
The Musical Work: The lyrics, the melody, and the composition.
- Examples: Ed Sheeran writing the chords. Elton John writing the tune.
- Who represents them? (Performing Right Society).
