Melodial Legal Assurance: Fully Licensed Music in the UK

Melodial’s music model means no public performance or music licensing fees are needed in the UK. Here is the legal reasoning, in plain language.

All music fully owned or directly licensed

Melodial is a music service for businesses where every track is fully owned or directly licensed. There are no covers or third-party songs in the catalogue, only original music created for Melodial. Because Melodial holds the necessary rights, it can grant you permission to play the tracks in public without involving any external licensing body or collecting society.

When you subscribe, you are granted a blanket public performance licence to play Melodial’s music within your business premises for the duration of your active subscription. This licence covers public performance, background music and in-store ambience.

What this means in the UK

If a business in the UK uses Melodial exclusively, it does not need a licence from PPL PRS (TheMusicLicence), which PPL PRS Ltd sells on behalf of PPL and PRS for Music. Melodial has effectively taken care of the public performance right by holding the music rights and giving you direct permission to use it. No royalties are owed to PPL PRS when you play Melodial, because the catalogue sits outside their repertoire. Collecting societies themselves acknowledge this model: APRA AMCOS states that you do not have to go through them to legally play music, and PRS for Music notes that music outside its control may simply require a licence from the relevant copyright owner, which is exactly what a Melodial subscription is.

The cost of non-compliance

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.

Real case: In PPL v Hagan [2016] EWHC 3076 (IPEC), the operator of two north London bars turned down a £5,000 settlement offer over unlicensed background music. The court found infringement, and with damages and legal costs the bill came to roughly £60,000.

This is why businesses either pay PPL PRS fees or use a directly licensed service to stay on the right side of the law.

The three rights you need, all covered

Recording rights, the right to stream a specific sound recording: covered by Melodial. Publishing rights, the right to stream the composition and lyrics: covered by Melodial. Public performance rights, the right to play music in a commercial environment: covered by Melodial.

Compliance, coverage and certification

Every account includes an official Certificate of Compliance you can keep on file as tangible assurance that you comply with music copyright law. One important note: Melodial’s legal benefits apply only while you are playing Melodial’s platform. If you step outside it, for example a personal Spotify playlist or the radio, your business is once again subject to public performance licensing rules and PPL PRS fees for that music.

In summary, Melodial removes the need for public performance fees in the UK entirely: no hidden costs, no reporting requirements and no risk of infringement claims, as long as Melodial is your exclusive music source.

Frequently asked questions

Is Melodial’s direct licence legally valid in the UK?

Yes. Copyright owners can license their works directly. Because Melodial owns or directly controls its whole catalogue and none of it is registered with PPL PRS, Melodial can grant your business permission without any collecting society involvement.

What proof do I get?

A Certificate of Compliance, downloadable from your account, confirming that the music you play is fully licensed for commercial use.

Does this cover other music I play?

No. The licence covers Melodial’s catalogue only. Any other commercially released music, from radio to Spotify, still requires a PPL PRS licence.