Commercial radio licence

Who needs this licence

Commercial radio stations that are broadcasting on AM, FM, DAB, cable or satellite, including online simulcasts.

If your radio station is online only, please look at the Limited Online Music Licence.

What this licence covers

This licence covers the right to:

  • broadcast and simulcast our members' music from the UK
  • provide on demand content for up to 30 days after its original broadcast
  • copy commercial works into programmes
  • copy production music into programmes and trailers
  • copy music for broadcast onto databases and servers

This is a summary of the rights covered by this licence. See the Terms and Conditions for more details, including relevant exceptions and limitations.

How we calculate the licence fee

The licence fees are calculated as a percentage of the station’s annual Net Broadcasting Revenue (NBR), plus an annual royalty fee.

Annual royalty fees*

*for year ending 30 September 2026
Annual Net Broadcasting Revenue
Royalty Fee
Up to £166,720
£92
Between £166,720 and £416,799 £275
Between £416,799 and £1,079,711
£684
Between £1,079,711 and £2,159,425
£1,834
Between £2,159,425 and £5,001,586
£2,751
Greater than £5,001,586 £6,419

Annual royalty rate*

*for year ending 30 September 2026

Annual Net Broadcast Revenue

Royalty Rate

Up to £46,538 £1,394
Between £46,538 and £1,079,711
3%

Between £1,079,711 and £2,159,425

4%
Greater than  £2,159,425
5.25%
Subject to the annual minimum fee, where the total music use is less than 15% of total broadcast time, and regardless of the NBR level, the percentage rate will be 1%

Annual minimum fee

A minimum annual fee of £1,485 per licensed station is payable regardless of NBR.

Contact us

If you need advice or have any questions about your application, please email radiolicensing@prsformusic.com.

If your radio station is online only, please email us at applications@prsformusic.com or call out licensing team on +44 (0)20 3741 3888.

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