The guide

Background music without a PPL PRS licence — lawfully, for your venue

In the UK, playing recorded music in a place of business normally requires TheMusicLicence from PPL PRS — a single joint licence covering the rights of songwriters and publishers (PRS for Music) and of performers and record companies (PPL). There is a lawful alternative: playing music that is not part of that repertoire, under a direct licence from the rightsholder that grants explicit public-performance rights for business use. Because Tonarch's works are licensed directly and are registered with neither PRS for Music nor PPL, playing only the Tonarch repertoire does not, on its own, bring your premises within TheMusicLicence's registered scope. Playing even one track of other repertoire — radio, TV, a mainstream streaming playlist — does, independent of this certificate. Under UK law, performers and producers have a right to equitable remuneration when sound recordings are played in public (s.182D of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988); this right is mandatory and cannot be waived. The Tonarch Licence Certificate is a direct licence that discharges this statutory obligation in respect of the Tonarch repertoire. For any non-Tonarch music, separate licensing — including potentially a blanket licence from PRS for Music and/or PPL via TheMusicLicence — remains the venue's responsibility.

What you pay today

Today, playing music in a venue usually means fees to one or more collecting societies:

• PPL PRS (TheMusicLicence)

A Tonarch licence from £349 / year per location — one predictable fee, anchored to what you pay now.

The legal basis of direct licensing

Collecting-society fees apply to works within those societies' repertoire. When the rightsholder grants a direct licence and the works are registered with no society, no society royalties arise from playing them publicly. That is the model Tonarch operates on.

The inspection scenario

If PPL PRS or a licensing officer asks, you present your Tonarch Licence Certificate — issued to your venue by name and address — with the repertoire annex listing every track. It names the rightsholder and confirms the works sit outside PPL PRS repertoire.

FAQ

Do I really not need TheMusicLicence?

TheMusicLicence covers the PRS for Music and PPL repertoire. Tonarch music is licensed directly and registered with neither, so playing only the Tonarch repertoire does not require it. The moment you add any other music source, that changes — see the note on this page. You remain responsible for confirming your own position, including around PPL PRS's first-year Higher Royalty Rate if you were previously unlicensed.

What do I show if I'm asked?

Your Licence Certificate, issued to your venue by name and address, plus the repertoire annex listing every track. Both are delivered the moment you buy and can be printed or shown on screen.

Am I buying files or a right?

You are buying the right to play the listed works publicly in one named location. Files are delivered, but the product is the ongoing right plus the documentation. If the licence ends, the right ends.