Updated for 2026
UK businesses can avoid paying for a PRS PPL music licence by using royalty-free music, which can be played legally in public spaces without performance royalties.
Business owners use search engines daily to find the answer to ‘How to avoid paying for a Music Licence UK’. Why? Because the PRS PPL music licence is a tough cost to justify, especially for something that is played quietly in the background.
The great news is that there is a way to play music without buying a music licence. It’s called royalty-free music. And whilst the good stuff isn’t ‘free’ to use, it offers a big cost saving for business owners.
What Is Royalty-Free Music?
It’s music you can play in your business without buying a licence. You can do this because the artists, musicians and composers are not registered with PRS and PPL, which means they don’t collect royalty payments for the music creators. Instead, the artists (in our case) get paid via a music licensing company for the use of their work.
You can’t legally play commercial music in your business without a music licence, so if you want to play background music without spending a fortune, royalty-free music could be for you!
Is Royalty-Free Music Legal?
Yes, royalty-free music is legal. The artist or musician who created the music still gets paid, just not by PRS PPL. It’s a simpler and less expensive way to play background music, so it’s easy to see why it’s a popular way to play music commercially, particularly for small business owners.
How Much Can You Save With Licence-Free Music
We expect all businesses that use our service to save at least 50% of the cost of their music licence. Our service is accessed on a subscription basis, and the prices are:
- Monthly Subscription £15 (+vat) per site/per month (cancel anytime)
- Annual Subscription £150 (+vat) per site/per annum (saver deal)
A subscription to Background Sounds is per site and not based on the size, type or number of seats in your business. So the larger your premises, the greater your savings will be!
Swapping to Royalty Free Music
If you decide to stop paying for a PRS PPL music licence and instead start playing royalty-free music, there are some things to be aware of:
- You may have to confirm to PRS/PPL that you’re using a royalty-free service, especially if you’ve had contact with them before.
- They may request evidence, e.g. a certificate from your royalty-free music supplier.
- Sending the certificate will allow them to update their records that you are playing music legally in your business.
- A reputable company will have no problem sending you a certificate.
- Don’t use a company that doesn’t supply this certificate. This means you have no evidence to show your compliance with the regulations.
⭐️ We’re happy to supply all paid subscribers with a certificate. Request yours once you have completed checkout ⭐️
Try Our Royalty-Free Music Service for Free
Trying out a royalty-free music service is the best way to find out if it’s right for you. That way, you can see what music is available, check whether it fits what you need in your business, and try out the provider’s delivery method to make sure it’s compatible with your system.
We offer every business a free 7-day trial of our service, which gives you full access to our entire playlist library. It’s filled with over 60 fantastic royalty-free playlists covering over 20 music genres, giving you a wide range to choose from. Ensuring you can create your perfect first impression and the right ambience for your business.
We don’t ask for your card details when you sign up for the trial, and there’s no hard sell from us if you decide we’re not the right fit.
Frequently Asked Questions: Avoiding a Music Licence in the UK
How can a UK business avoid paying for a PRS PPL music licence legally?
UK businesses can avoid paying for a PRS PPL music licence by using royalty-free music instead of copyrighted commercial music.
PRS and PPL only collect royalties for music created by artists registered with them. If you use a legitimate royalty-free music service, you can play music legally in your business without purchasing a PRS PPL licence.
Is royalty-free music really legal for business use in the UK?
Yes, royalty-free music is legal for commercial and public use when supplied by a reputable provider.
The artists are still paid, just through a different licensing model rather than PRS or PPL. This makes royalty-free music a compliant and cost-effective option for UK businesses that want background music without ongoing licence fees.
What happens if PRS or PPL ask about my music?
If PRS or PPL contacts you, they may ask where your music comes from and for evidence. A reputable royalty-free music provider will supply a certificate of subscription confirming that your music does not require a PRS PPL licence.
Sending this certificate allows PRS and PPL to update their records and confirm that you are playing music legally. We advise you always opt for a supplier (like Background Sounds) that will send you a certificate confirming your music is royalty-free.
Questions?
Get in touch with Grant or Mel if you’d like to chat about playing royalty-free music in your business. They will talk you through the subscription options and answer any questions you may have about the service.
Background Sounds is a specialist provider of royalty-free music. We work with small businesses looking to play music without the need to buy a PRS PPL Music Licence. You can access the service via online streaming when you take a subscription. You can find out all you need to know on our home page here.
