Reference · 2026 · ex-VAT
PPL PRS music licence tariffs & costs (2026). TheMusicLicence isn’t one fee — it’s a PPL tariff plus a separate PRS for Music tariff, added together . PPL covers the sound recording; PRS for Music covers the underlying song. The two organisations set their rates separately and re-index annually on staggered dates, which is a big part of why bills are so hard to sanity-check. Below are the real published 2026 figures — shown combined for shops, where we’ve verified both halves — and the full tariff index with links to each official source.
What a shop pays, combined For a retail shop playing background music, the annual cost is the PPL shops tariff plus the PRS for Music “RS” tariff, by customer-audible floor area. All figures ex-VAT.
Audible area PPL PRS for Music Combined / year Up to 50m² £204.19 £246.80 £450.99 Up to 100m² £204.19 £246.80 £450.99 Up to 150m² £204.19 £359.90 £564.09 Up to 200m² £204.19 £359.90 £564.09 Up to 300m² £204.19 £473.70 £677.89 Up to 500m² £204.19 £586.70 £790.89 Up to 750m² £257.23 £700.20 £957.43 Up to 1000m² £345.63 £813.60 £1,159.23
A first-year higher rate (standard + 50%) can apply if you played music before getting licensed — for the first year only. If it’s still on your bill after that, it’s likely an overcharge .
The underlying band tables PRS for Music · RS Audible area Standard / year Up to 100m² £246.80 101–150m² £359.90 151–200m² £359.90 201–300m² £473.70 301–500m² £586.70 501–750m² £700.20 751–1000m² £813.60 1001–1250m² £926.80 1251–1500m² £1,040.10 1501–1750m² £1,153.60 1751–2000m² £1,267.10 2001–2500m² £1,380.40 2501–3000m² £1,493.70 3001–3500m² £1,607.10 3501–4000m² £1,720.50 4001–4500m² £1,833.50 4501–5000m² £1,947.10 5001–6000m² £2,060.30 6001–7000m² £2,173.60 7001–8000m² £2,287.00 8001–9000m² £2,400.10 9001–10000m² £2,513.70
Official source ↗ PPL · PPLPP211 Audible area Standard / year Up to 600m² £204.19 601–650m² £221.87 651–700m² £239.55 701–750m² £257.23 751–800m² £274.91 801–850m² £292.59 851–900m² £310.27 901–950m² £327.95 951–1000m² £345.63 Each additional 50m² +£17.68
Official source ↗ The full tariff index Every current PPL, PRS for Music and VPL tariff that can make up TheMusicLicence, with a link to the official document. We publish the facts (codes, titles, sources) — not the copyrighted PDFs.
PPL · 67 tariffs PPLPP001 — Specially Featured Entertainment (SFE)PDF ↗ PPLPP002 — Single Casual EventsPDF ↗ PPLPP003 — Pop QuizzesPDF ↗ PPLPP004 — Mobile DJPDF ↗ PPLPP016 — Background Music — Registered Members’ ClubsPDF ↗ PPLPP017 — Background Music — Nightclubs, Discotheques & Dance HallsPDF ↗ PPLPP018 — Background Music — MiscellaneousPDF ↗ PPLPP020 — Dance TeachersPDF ↗ PPLPP021 — Dance StudiosPDF ↗ PPLPP023 — Practice & Social DancesPDF ↗ PPLPP024 — Holiday Centres — Dance SupplementPDF ↗ PPLPP025 — Scottish Highland DancingPDF ↗ PPLPP026 — Folk Club DancesPDF ↗ PPLPP027 — Country & Western DancesPDF ↗ PPLPP030 — Amateur Theatrical PerformancesPDF ↗ PPLPP031 — Background Music — TheatresPDF ↗ PPLPP032 — Theatrical ProductionsPDF ↗ PPLPP034 — Puppet & Magic ShowsPDF ↗ PPLPP036 — Background Music — CinemasPDF ↗ PPLPP037 — Listening PostsPDF ↗ PPLPP040 — Background Music — Museums & Art GalleriesPDF ↗ PPLPP041 — Background Music — Buses & CoachesPDF ↗ PPLPP042 — Background Music — Inland & Coastal VesselsPDF ↗ PPLPP043 — Background Music — Railway, Underground & Bus/Coach StationsPDF ↗ PPLPP044 — Background Music — AircraftPDF ↗ PPLPP049 — Background Music — Gymnasium WorkoutPDF ↗ PPLPP050 — Background Music — Swimming PoolsPDF ↗ PPLPP051 — Background Music — Spectator SportsPDF ↗ PPLPP052 — Background Music — Skating RinksPDF ↗ PPLPP053 — Synchronised SwimmingPDF ↗ PPLPP054 — Background Music — Leisure Centres & Health/Fitness ClubsPDF ↗ PPLPP055 — Background Music — Ten Pin Bowling CentresPDF ↗ PPLPP056 — Laser Space GamesPDF ↗ PPLPP057 — Background Music — Concert VenuesPDF ↗ PPLPP059 — Background Music — Gymnastics ClubsPDF ↗ PPLPP062 — Fashion ShowsPDF ↗ PPLPP070 — Background Music — Bingo SessionsPDF ↗ PPLPP071 — Background Music — Amusement & Pleasure ParksPDF ↗ PPLPP073 — Background Music — Amusement ArcadesPDF ↗ PPLPP074 — Background Music — CasinosPDF ↗ PPLPP080 — ExhibitionsPDF ↗ PPLPP082 — Public Address EngineersPDF ↗ PPLPP083 — Election CampaignsPDF ↗ PPLPP084 — Telephone Music on HoldPDF ↗ PPLPP085 — Background Music — Waiting Rooms & Reception AreasPDF ↗ PPLPP087 — Background Music — NAAFI / Armed Services BasesPDF ↗ PPLPP088 — Background Music — Holiday CentresPDF ↗ PPLPP090 — Background Music — Caravan ParksPDF ↗ PPLPP113 — Background Music — Hairdressing & Beauty SalonsPDF ↗ PPLPP116 — Community BuildingsPDF ↗ PPLPP210 — Background Music — Pubs, Bars, Restaurants, Cafés & HotelsPDF ↗ PPLPP211 — Background Music — Shops & StoresPDF ↗ PPLPP212 — Background Music — Factories & OfficesPDF ↗ PPLPP213 — Recorded Music in Hotel BedroomsPDF ↗ PPLPP222 — Exercise to Music (ETM)PDF ↗ PPLPP223 — Not-for-Profit Amateur Sports ClubsPDF ↗ PPLPP225 — Background Music — Small WorkplacesPDF ↗ PPLPP226 — NurseriesPDF ↗ PPLPP289 — Small Residential Hotels & GuesthousesPDF ↗ PPLPP299 — Specially Featured Entertainment (SFE) — Tariff 299PDF ↗ PPLPP310 — PPL Tariff (PPLPP310)PDF ↗ PPLPP311 — PPL Tariff (PPLPP311)PDF ↗ PPLPP399 — Specially Featured Entertainment (SFE) — Tariff 399PDF ↗ SFE — Specially Featured Entertainment (SFE) — Nightclubs, Pubs, Bars, Restaurants, Cafés & HotelsPDF ↗ PRS for Music · 45 tariffs AMS — PRS Tariff ‘AMS’PDF ↗ APS — Amusement ParksPDF ↗ AS — Agricultural & County ShowsPDF ↗ B — Bands (Service & Other)PDF ↗ BC — Bowling ConcoursesPDF ↗ CB — Community BuildingsPDF ↗ D — Commercial Discotheques & Dance HallsPDF ↗ EE — Educational EstablishmentsPDF ↗ FD — Fitness ClassesPDF ↗ FE — Further Education CollegesPDF ↗ FL — Firework DisplaysPDF ↗ GP — General PurposesPDF ↗ HB — Hairdressers & Beauty SalonsPDF ↗ HC — Holiday CentresPDF ↗ HCP — Holiday Caravan ParksPDF ↗ HR — Hotels, Restaurants & CafésPDF ↗ I — Music in the WorkplacePDF ↗ J — Proprietary ClubsPDF ↗ JMC — Members’ ClubsPDF ↗ LA — Local Authorities & CouncilsPDF ↗ LC — Classical Music Concerts & RecitalsPDF ↗ LP — Popular Music ConcertsPDF ↗ MH — PRS Tariff ‘MH’PDF ↗ ML — PRS Tariff ‘ML’PDF ↗ MV — PRS Tariff ‘MV’PDF ↗ N — Nurseries & Pre-SchoolsPDF ↗ O — Open-Air Places & ParksPDF ↗ PPL — Minimum Annual FeePDF ↗ PSB — Passenger ShippingPDF ↗ T — Theatrical PresentationsPDF ↗ TR — PRS Tariff ‘TR’PDF ↗ UCH — Universities & CollegesPDF ↗ YCH — Youth Clubs & CentresPDF ↗ VPL · 9 tariffs VPLPP001 — Music Video — Background FeesPDF ↗ VPLPP002 — Music Video — Foreground FeesPDF ↗ VPLPP004 — Music Video — Exhibition FeesPDF ↗ VPLPP005 — Music Video — AirlinesPDF ↗ VPLPP006 — Music Video — Concert & Stage EventsPDF ↗ VPLPP007 — Video Jukebox OperatorsPDF ↗ VPLPP009 — Music Video — Mobile DJPDF ↗ VPLPP013 — Music Video — Spectator SportsPDF ↗ VPLPP014 — Music Video — Gyms & Leisure CentresPDF ↗ Not sure which tariff you’re on? Try the calculator for the exact shop figure, or send your invoice and we’ll check it line by line against these tariffs — free. No savings, no fee.
Figures are the published 2026 PPL, PRS for Music and VPL tariffs, ex-VAT, and re-index annually — treat them as a snapshot, not a quote. Source: https://pplprs.co.uk/business/other/ (public PPL, PRS for Music & VPL tariffs for TheMusicLicence). MLC is independent — not affiliated with PPL PRS Ltd, PRS for Music or PPL.