Do I need a music licence to play the radio, TV or Spotify at work?
The source of the music doesn’t change the rule — playing it in public does. Here’s the position for radio, TV and streaming.
In almost all cases, yes. If you play the radio, a TV with music, or a streaming service like Spotify where customers or staff can hear it, that counts as a ‘public performance’ and needs TheMusicLicence. The source doesn’t change the rule — playing music in a business is what triggers it.
Playing the radio
Playing the radio in a shop, salon, workshop or office is a public performance of the music it broadcasts, so it generally needs TheMusicLicence. That’s separate from the TV Licence, which covers watching broadcasts — not the public performance of the music.
A TV in a customer or staff area
A TV showing programmes with music needs the music licence for the music element. If you’re also watching live TV or BBC iPlayer, you need a TV Licence too — they’re two different things covering two different rights.
Spotify, Apple Music and other streaming
Personal Spotify and Apple Music subscriptions are licensed for personal use only — their terms don’t permit business use. To stream to customers or staff legally you need a proper commercial music source plus TheMusicLicence. Some royalty-free B2B services clear the rights for you so you don’t need PPL PRS for that music — but only if you’re happy not to play the commercial hits.
The exceptions
You generally don’t need TheMusicLicence only if you play genuinely royalty-free or specifically-licensed music, or no audible music at all. For everything else — chart music, the radio, most playlists — you do.
Not sure which applies to you, or think you’re being charged for the wrong kind of use? Send us your invoice for a free check, or book a Sanity Call. No savings, no fee.
- Do I need a music licence for my business? →
- Royalty-free vs licensed music →
- What is PPL PRS? TheMusicLicence explained →
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Related guides
This guide is general information, not legal advice, and MLC is an independent consultancy — not affiliated with PPL PRS Ltd, PRS for Music or PPL.