How Much Does a Music Licence Cost in the UK?

In the UK, a traditional music licence typically costs £151 to £5,755 or more per year, depending on your business type, size and how you use music. Fees are set by PPL PRS (TheMusicLicence), which sells on behalf of PPL and PRS for Music. And that figure is just the licence: the music itself is a separate cost on top. Here is the full breakdown, and how to cut the total to £4.99 per month.

Licence costs by business type

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

Based on published PPL PRS tariffs plus a typical streaming subscription. Actual fees vary by venue type, size and music use.

The cost they do not mention

The licence only covers the legal right to play music. It does not include the music itself, so you still pay separately for a streaming source. And Spotify or Apple Music will not do: their terms prohibit commercial use, so even with a paid consumer subscription you would still need the licence on top.

The £4.99 per month alternative

Melodial includes both the music and the licence in one subscription. Every track is owned or directly licensed by Melodial, and none of the catalogue is registered with PPL PRS or any other collecting society, which means there are no royalties to collect and no licence fees to pay.

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.

Your Melodial subscription is your licence. No middlemen, no tariff schedules, no annual audits, and a Certificate of Compliance you can download instantly.

What happens if you skip the licence?

If PPL PRS establishes you have been playing music without a licence, they can demand backdated fees for the entire period, up to six years under the Limitation Act 1980, and add a 50% surcharge on top to cover the cost of catching you. Persistent cases go to the High Court. Playing music without a licence is copyright infringement under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. See the full breakdown of fines and penalties in the UK.

Switching takes three minutes: subscribe, play Melodial exclusively, and download your Certificate of Compliance.

Frequently asked questions

Can I negotiate my PPL PRS fees?

Not usually. Fees are based on published tariff schedules, tiered by business type and size. Payment plans may exist, but the total is not typically negotiable for small businesses.

Do licence fees increase every year?

Tariffs are reviewed and often increase annually. Melodial’s price stays flat at £4.99 per month, with no increases based on venue size or business type.

Is Melodial really just £4.99 per month?

Yes. One flat price per stream. No per-zone charges, no per-class surcharges, no hidden fees. Music and licence included.

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 no other licence is required.