The Lowest-Cost Fully Licensed Music Option for Business in the UK

Answer: a directly licensed service like Melodial, at £4.99 per month. Most business owners compare streaming services by subscription price and stop there. But the subscription is only half the cost. In the UK you also need a public performance licence from PPL PRS (TheMusicLicence), which can cost £151 to £5,755 or more per year. A low-cost option is a service that includes both the music and the licence in one subscription.

Every option compared by real total cost

Most comparisons only show the subscription price. The true annual cost includes the licence you would need on top.

Option	Licence required?	Total real annual cost
Melodial (£4.99/month)	Included	£49.99, everything included
Consumer streaming (Spotify, Apple Music)	Separate licence needed, and commercial use violates their terms	Subscription plus £151 to £5,755 or more per year
Radio	Separate licence needed	£151 to £5,755 or more per year, and no control over ads or content
Silence	Not needed	Free, but it hurts atmosphere and sales

What PPL PRS actually costs

Business type	TheMusicLicence + music source (per year)	Melodial (per year)
Small retail shop (up to 100m²)	£751+	£49.99
Café or restaurant (30 seats, background music)	£850 to £966+	£49.99
Hair or beauty salon (small to mid-size)	£652 to £788+	£49.99
Gym or fitness studio (recorded music, classes)	£3,132 to £6,055+	£49.99

TheMusicLicence fees are based on published tariffs and vary by business type, size and music use. Totals shown include a typical separate music streaming subscription.

Why Melodial costs so much less

Traditional business music services license mainstream music from major labels and pass those royalty costs on to you. Then you still need a separate licence from PPL PRS. Melodial takes a completely different approach: every track is owned or directly licensed by Melodial, and none of the catalogue is registered with any collecting society worldwide. No royalties to collect means no licence fees to pay. Your subscription is your licence, and it comes with an official Certificate of Compliance.

One flat price per stream. No per-zone charges, no per-class surcharges, no hidden fees. The same price whether you run a 50m² shop or a 500m² gym.

Frequently asked questions

Is Melodial really the lowest-cost option?

Once you factor in the total cost including PPL PRS fees, Melodial is the lowest-cost fully licensed option we’ve found. See the full price comparison against PPL PRS and a separate music source. Other services may advertise lower subscription prices, but they require a separate licence costing £151 to £5,755 or more per year on top. Melodial includes both from £4.99 per month.

Can I just play the radio for free?

The radio itself is free, but playing it in a commercial premises requires a licence from PPL PRS. You also have no control over what plays: ads, news, or inappropriate content.

Does Melodial have mainstream artists?

No, and that is exactly why it costs so much less. Mainstream music triggers collecting society fees. Melodial’s catalogue is thousands of professionally produced tracks designed for commercial environments. Your customers want the right atmosphere, not a specific artist.

What is the catch?

You can only play Melodial music. If you also play mainstream radio, Spotify or CDs, you still need a PPL PRS licence for that music. Play Melodial exclusively and you do not need any other licence.