Digital Music Licence FAQs

The LOML licence covers:

The Limited Online Music Licence is an annual licence that covers the communication to the public and associated mechanical rights of our members' repertoire through digital services.

The LOML licence does not cover:

• Synchronisation rights.
• E-learning services offering streaming or on-demand content
• Fitness/dance instructors and services offering streamed or on-demand content

If you have licensed the synchronisation rights via MCPS Production Music, you will require a Performing Right Online Licence (PROL). For advice on how to clear synchronization rights or information on which rightsholders to contact, please reach out to us at synclicensing@prsformusic.com.

• Certain repertoire works are not licensed for online karaoke services.
• Sound recording rights
• Services operating outside the UK
• Use of music in adverts, sponsorship or corporate videos
• Adaptations of works
• Content on third party websites and social media platforms such as YouTube or Facebook.
• Use of music in businesses via streaming, music on demand and previewing clips. For example, a small business which uses music to compliment a staff quiz would need a Digital Music Licence for Business. 
• A place of worship wishing to use music in their stream of a worship service, wedding or funeral. 

Small digital services in the UK for those offering: 

• music on demand
• music download
• karaoke
• Internet Radio Stations

The Limited Online Music Licence lasts for 12 months from the date of purchase.

The Limited Online Music Licence is an annual blanket licence. If you’re only using music for a set number of months, you can choose to be charged pro-rata for these months, subject to a minimum fee of £94 + VAT. You'll need to pay a licence fee for each type of activity.

Use this guide to see which is the right licence band for you.

The number of webcast streams is determined by calculating how many times each individual work has been listened to. For example, a radio station which has 100 listeners and broadcasts 25 musical works to those listeners will use an allocated total of 2,500 streams.

We will only charge you for the period of the year in which you operate, and fees will be pro-rated subject to a minimum licence fee .fee. In addition, you should be aware that usage limitations, such as the number of streams within each band, will also be pro-rated.

The Digital Music Licence for Business is designed for businesses making music available digitally as part of a service from which no revenue is derived from the use of the music and/or content containing music.

Types of music usage in this licence includes: 

• Streaming  
• Clips (previewing 30 second clips of tracks)   
• On Demand streaming & downloads of non-music focused content 

Rights included within this licence: 

• The communication to the public of PRS repertoire  
• The communication to the public of Production music sound recordings  
• Mechanical rights in MCPS repertoire 

If customers require any other type of usage, please visit our website to buy a suitable licence.  

The licence does not provide the rights to sound recordings of commercial music, which are (typically) owned by record labels and not licensed by us.

This licence does not cover: 

• B2B, for example, a business supplying music to places of worship for use in worship services. It does not permit the use of general entertainment content, such as TV programmes, or the use of music in advertising campaigns, sponsorship, or in corporate videos for conferences. 
• Synchronisation rights

This licence does not cover any public performance rights and should not be confused with Tariff I– Music in the Workplace, administered by PPL PRS, which applies to the public performance of audible background music for employees in workplaces such as offices and factories. 

Music usage excluded within the scope of this licence is: 

• Podcasts 
• Internet radio stations 
• Digital education and fitness providers 
• Worship 
• On demand music streaming & music downloads

Customers can use 180,000 streams or 500 clips or 6,500 on demand streaming hours or 360 downloaded hours per licence year.

If you require more music usage, you can purchase two blocks.

Yes. A music licence is required whenever our members’ repertoire is made available for online usage. A clip is an excerpt of a musical work primarily used for preview or promotional use, for example clips made available on an artist’s website to promote their music. Clips must be no longer than 30 seconds long if the total duration of the musical work is under ten minutes or less. The Digital Music Licence for Business will cover you for preview clips.

The Worship licence covers:

Communication to the public and mechanical rights for:

• Streaming worship services, as well as funerals and weddings, on their own website and third-party platforms in video or audio format. 
• Activities associated with worship (outside of the list of excluded activities), such as sharing links to worship services via email, or the occasional meeting associated with worship on third-party platforms such as Zoom or Teams.

This Worship licence does not cover:

• B2B, for example, a business supplying music to places of worship for use in worship services. It does not permit the use of general entertainment content, such as TV programmes, or the use of music in advertising campaigns, sponsorship, or in corporate videos for conferences. 
• Synchronisation rights

Music usage excluded within the scope of this licence is: 

• Podcasts 
• Internet radio stations
• Digital education 
• Fitness providers 
• On demand music streaming & music downloads 
• Online Live Concerts

The CCLI Streaming Licence solely covers CCLI repertoire, whereas the Digital Music Licence for Worship gains you access to the 42 million works we represent, not limited to one genre.  

The PPL Church Licence does not cover online communication rights, so you do still need to purchase the Digital Music Licence for Worship if you stream services online.

If you exclusively use out-of-copyright music, the Digital Music Licence for Worship may not be required. However, always ensure the piece of music you intend to use isn't under copyright. For instance, rearrangements may still necessitate licensing. Information on how you can search for works covered by PRS can be found here.

No, this license solely applies to religious organisations. Third parties renting facilities, such as for concerts they plan to stream online, are not licensed under the Digital Music Licence for Worship.

No, the Digital Music Licence for Worship does not cover copying services onto CD or USB drive. This requires a separate license.

Generally, the license does not cover social media platforms like YouTube or Facebook, including embedded links from these websites. These platforms typically have their own licensing agreements.

The Digital Music Licences for Schools, Further and Higher Education covers the communication, mechanical, and synchronization rights associated with works by PRS for Music and MCPS members. These rights extend to the usage of music on the educational institution's online platforms.

The licences can also be obtained by student unions to cover clubs and societies affiliated with the institution.

The licence is applicable to both campus-based and online courses at colleges and universities.

The Digital Music Licence for Further and Higher Education covers the copyright associated with the institution’s music use on its own platforms, and certain third-party platforms such as Zoom and Teams.

The licences do not include:

• Coverage for student radio stations
• Coverage podcasts
• Coverage for advertising or sponsorship campaigns
• Coverage for short courses or commercial e-learning courses
• Use of platforms like Spotify and YouTube; these platforms have separate agreements and are licensed for personal use only.  

	Per Student   - Standard	Per Student   - Enhanced
Further Education	£0.83	£1.24
Higher Education	£1.66	£2.89
Schools	£0.83	-

Whilst educational copyright exceptions exist for music use in teaching instruction and private study, this use must be within fair usage limitations and do not extend to music used in communication with the public (including via online modes communication). 

The Digital Music Licence for Further and Higher Education provides comprehensive coverage beyond these exceptions, ensuring institutions can utilize music beyond the restrictions of these exceptions.

No, we license the service hosting the content and not the individuals who upload works onto the service, therefore it is the service providers’ responsibility to take out the licence.

We do however recommend you use licensed platforms to ensure works written by our members and members of affiliated societies are licensed appropriately.

If you are amending or making changes to the musical work when recording the cover version, you will need prior approval from the rights holders.

No. In relation to audio-only content, it is the service provider’s responsibility to take out the licence. The social media provider you are using would be the entity communicating music to the public and reproducing it digitally. You will only need a licence if you wish to make content available on your own service.

When music is used in conjunction with a visual element an extra right is present which is deemed a ‘synchronisation’ right. In order to clear this right, you may need to seek prior approval from the rights holders before you supply or upload such content to third party platforms.

If your podcast has already cleared the necessary synchronisation rights at the point of creation, is audio only and is available on your own website for audiences to download or stream on demand, then you will need this licence. If you are creating a podcast regardless of where it will be distributed and wish to incorporate our members music into the content itself, then you will need an additional synchronisation licence.

If your podcast is only available via platforms / DSPs then you don’t require this licence, however, please ensure that you have any synchronisation licences in place if you’re incorporating our members repertoire into your content.

Audio only content

Audiovisual podcasts or audiobook titles will need to obtain the necessary rights directly with the rightsholders. For the communication to the public rights of audio-visual content we can offer customers the Performing Right Online Licence (PROL). 

Digital services (+ websites) that offer podcasts & audiobook content to a UK audience. Whether the content is produced by the platform or made available to download or stream on demand on the platform, if the material contains our members’ repertoire the platform / website or DSP will need this licence.  

No synchronisation rights have been granted under this licence i.e. the initial copying of works into the content. Creators / producers of content will be required to licence those rights from the rightsholders directly.

A rate per music hour (RPMH) is a fixed royalty rate for 1 hour (60mins) of music regardless of whether the content is downloaded or streamed. As the amount of our members’ music used can vary between podcast episodes and audiobooks, we believe a royalty rate based on consumption is fairest method of calculating the royalty, the royalty will only apply when our members music is used. If your estimated music hours are less than or equal to 12,368 in a 12-month period, you can purchase the licence via our Music shop.

To help ensure our members are fairly remunerated for the music they’ve created, we require platforms & DSPs to report to us both music usage (cue sheets) and consumption data (number of streams or downloads) on a quarterly basis. Customers who purchase the licence via our music shop and whose annual music hours are less than or equal to 12,368 are not subjected to the quarterly reporting schedule, however customers may be asked to submit reporting at the end of their licence period to ensure they still fall under the permissible music hours.

Please click here to view the cue sheet template

The licence is available to UK E-Learning services using music in their content, with revenues less than £500,000 per annum. Larger services should contact us to discuss their licensing needs.  

Customers with applicable revenues over £500,000 per annum will require a bespoke licence and can contact applications@prsformusic.com.

• An E-Learning Music Service is defined as a service that provides significant access to music (high density) and has a music focus, for example, e-learning courses for learning of musical instruments with accompanying musical work as part of the fee, such as a subscription fee, fixed fee etc.
  Rate: Greater of 7.5% (11.25% for lyrics) or rate table. 
   
• E-Learning Services (non-music) applies to commercial services offering educational content where music is included, but music is not the primary subject of focus.
  Rate: Rate table.

Applicable Revenue

• The Digital Music Licence for E-Learning is available to both E-Learning Music Services and E-Learning (non-music) Services provided applicable revenue is under £500,000 per annum.
• Applicable revenues may include but is not limited to E-Learning subscription revenue, transactional revenue, advertising revenue or sponsorship revenue where such revenues are derived from the provision of E-Learning content (i.e. revenues derived from copyright-protected music used within online On Demand or Streamed E-Learning content). If an E-Learning service offers learners access to content that has no music via subscription or fixed fee (or other revenue generating mechanism), exclude that revenue.
• The greater of % of Applicable Revenue or Rate Table charging mechanism only applies to E-learning Music Services, where music is a significant part of the service provided.
• E-Learning Music Services must report applicable revenues (i.e. subscription revenue, fixed fee revenue etc.) to calculate the licence fee. In this charging context, the % of revenue charge is applied to revenues derived from instances where music has been made available online within E-Learning content as part of the fee, e.g. a library of songs/ playlists to learn as part of the fee, such as a subscription fee.
• All E-Learning Services will be required to submit financial reporting on their revenues and should maintain financial records that can be audited. This includes detailed accounts of course revenue sources and revenues associated with music focused content (e.g., enrolment fees, one-time payments, subscriptions).

The Digital Music Licence for E-Learning includes the following rights:

• Communication to the public of PRS for Music repertoire
• Mechanical rights associated with MCPS repertoire, including production music
• Lyric reproduction rights

Rights not covered:

• Synchronisation rights: Obtainable under a separate licence either directly from the rightsholders or via our website where we are mandated to do so. 
• Sheet music or musical notation (graphic rights): Available directly from rightsholders. 
• Sound recordings of commercial music: Typically owned by record labels and not licensed by PRS for Music. 
• This licence does not cover any public performance rights. Public performance rights are administered by PPL PRS, www.pplprs.co.uk.

Services not covered by Digital Music Licence for E-Learning: 

• Full-time (or part-time equivalent) courses at a school or further or higher education establishment. These courses are covered under the Digital Music Licence for Schools or the Digital Music Licence for Higher Education. 
• Dedicated Music streaming, karaoke, and dedicated download services. 
• Advertisements or sponsorship.
• Podcasts and Audiobooks, which is covered under the Digital Music Licence for Podcasts and Audiobooks.
• Choirs performing as part of a worship service that is streamed online are covered under our Digital Music Licence for Worship. If the choir performance is streamed online but is not part of a worship service, it is instead covered under our Digital Music Licence for Business. Ticketed choir performances or pay per view concerts streamed online are covered under our Online Live Concert Licence.

4 types of music uses are covered in the On Demand charges. These charges apply to websites that provide access to educational content, the primary users being students, schools, or individual learners:

Stream music alongside course materials

• Stream music alongside course materials means e-learning music only on demand streams made available on the website. You will select this music usage type if individual on demand streamed audio-only or audio-visual music file(s) are made available on the website.
• In the case of audio-visual music files, the only visual element permitted is the display of the lyrics for the purpose of viewing in conjunction with the music.
• Streams should be calculated according to the number of times a piece of music is streamed on your website (each time a visitor clicks play). The rate is applied per 45,000 audio streams delivered, with a higher rate applied if lyrics are displayed in conjunction with the music used (akin to a karaoke usage).
• Charges are applied cumulatively e.g. if your service delivers more than the usage allowance and delivers 46,000 streams you will be charged by the rate x 2; if you deliver 91,000 streams you will be charged by the rate x 3.  

Music in educational videos

• Using music in education videos means e-learning content on demand streams made available on the website. You will select this music usage type if your service offers on demand educational content containing music where the user is able to choose when to start and stop the item of E-Learning content.  
• Content hours should be calculated according to the number of hours of educational content made available that include pieces of music. The rate is applied per 6500 content hours delivered, with a higher rate applied if lyrics are displayed in conjunction with the music used (akin to a karaoke usage). 
• Charges are applied cumulatively e.g. if your service delivers more than the usage allowance and delivers 7500 content hours you will be charged by the rate x 2; if you deliver 14000 content hours you will be charged by the rate x 3.  The content hours delivered means the total hours of content viewed by all viewers, such that where 10 separate viewers each watch one hour of content, this shall mean a total of 10 content hours.

30 second e-learning clips of music

• 30 second clips of music means audio-only or audio-visual sound recordings made available to users by streaming on-demand on the website. You will select this music usage type if your service offers on demand 30 second clips of educational audio or audio-visual content containing music.
• Clips should be calculated by the number of 30 second clips made available. Each clip viewed or downloaded by each user will constitute one clip from your allocated allowance. The rate is applied per 550 e-learning clips delivered, with a higher rate applied if lyrics are displayed in conjunction with the music used (akin to a karaoke usage).
• Charges are applied cumulatively e.g. if your service delivers more than the usage allowance and delivers 650 clips you will be charged by the rate x 2; if you deliver 1,200 clips you will be charged by the rate x 3.

Downloadable course content

• Downloadable course content means E-Learning downloads made available on the website. You will select this music usage type if your service offers temporary or permanent downloads of educational audio visual content containing music.
• Downloads should be calculated by the number of downloads made available that contain pieces of music. The rate is applied per 395 A/V E-Learning content downloads delivered, with a higher rate applied if lyrics are displayed in conjunction with the music used (akin to a karaoke usage).
• Charges are applied cumulatively e.g. if your service delivers more than the usage allowance and delivers 495 A/V E-Learning Content Downloads you will be charged by the rate x 2; if you deliver 890 downloads you will be charged by the rate x 3.

The charges for Live Streamed Courses are separate and distinct from the On Demand charges and apply to services offering live-streamed E-Learning content e.g. instructor led short courses or webinars. 

• The licence can be applied per course or multiplied out for all courses scheduled for the upcoming year. Rates are calculated according to participation numbers and the number of music tracks used on the course per month. 
• Live Streamed Courses rates can be applied cumulatively as add-on charges where additional participants and tracks used. Customers will need to declare course participation levels and number of tracks used to determine charges that apply.  
• The licence fee is calculated automatically. You can use the steps below to calculate the charges that will apply. 

An E-Learning service achieves 60 monthly course participants and uses 45 tracks per month.

Step 1: Work out the total participants charges. The base charge (X) includes up to 55 participants per month (660 per year) using up to 15 tracks per month. If you have more than this, you pay additional participant charge (Y) for every extra 10 participants per month (or 120 per year)

1. Multiply monthly participants by 12 = yearly participants.
2. Subtract 660 from the yearly participants = the number of extra participants.
3. Divide the extra participants by 120 and round up to the nearest whole number. (e.g. 0.5, rounded up = 1)
4. Multiply the whole number by Y = the additional participant charge. 1 × Y = Y.
5. The base charge + the additional participant charge = total participant charge.  

Step 2: Work out the additional track charges. The base charge of X includes up to 15 tracks per month. If you use more, you pay your participant charge again for every extra 15 tracks. 

1. Subtract 15 from your total monthly tracks = the number of extra tracks you’re using.
2. Divide the extra tracks by 15 = the number of extra track blocks.
3. Multiply the total participant charge by the number of extra track blocks = the additional track charge.  

Step 3: Work out the final charge. Add your total participant charge and additional track charges = total licence cost. The final charge is the total participant fee + the additional track charge.

The licence is available to UK Fitness and Dance services offering on-demand or live streamed content streamed content of fitness classes and dance lessons, with applicable revenues less than £150,000 per annum. Customers with applicable revenues over £150,000 per annum must obtain a bespoke licence and can contact applications@prsformusic.com.

Rights included in the licence:

1. PRS repertoire and that of affiliated societies 
2. MCPS Commercial and Production Music repertoire 

The licence does not cover:

• Instructors and services who generate above £150,000 of applicable revenue per annum. 
• Synchronisation. The new digital fitness and dance scheme doesn’t cover audio visual use where a synchronisation licence is required. Synchronisation rights are obtainable under a separate licence either directly from the rightsholders or via our website.
• Sound recordings of commercial music, typically owned by record labels and not licensed by PRS for Music. 
• Music use in advertising campaigns or sponsorship 
• Corporate videos for conferences 
• B2B promotional use, or any product launches etc. without obtaining a separate synchronisation licence from the relevant rightsholders. 
• Public performance of music in Dance lessons or Fitness classes delivered in person, sold by PPL PRS.

Applicable revenue means revenues generated from delivering on-demand or live streamed content of fitness classes and dance lessons, for example subscription revenue, transactional revenue, advertising revenue or sponsorship revenue. Applicable revenue is the annual revenue derived from the provision of Live Streamed of On Demand streamed content (i.e. annual revenues derived from copyright-protected music used within On Demand Streamed or Live Streamed fitness classes/dance lessons).

• Live Stream means the streaming of fitness classes or dance lessons where the user cannot choose when to start or stop the musical work or item of Content. This is effectively akin to online linear broadcaster. Each stream of a Repertoire Work received by a User will constitute one On Demand Stream from your allocated allowance.
• On Demand means the ‘On demand’ streaming of fitness classes or dance lessons where the user is able to choose when to start and stop the item of Content. Each stream of a Repertoire Work received by a User will constitute one On Demand Stream from your allocated allowance.

The licence contains four royalty rates determined by:

• Class/lesson type (fitness class or dance lesson)
• Music usage type (Live Streamed Classes/lessons or On Demand Streamed classes/lessons).

The charges applied to your service will depend on the number of musical works used within your online fitness or dance class/lessons and the number of live streams and/or on demand views your online service delivers.

Your licence fee will be calculated automatically based on the music usage estimates you provide.
You can follow the below example calculation steps to determine how to apply the charges for live streamed or on demand streamed fitness classes / dance lessons.

Example calculation: An instructor live streams (14) dance lessons a week each week of the year (52) and uses 10 tracks in each class. 20 views are achieved per class.

• Rate for live stream dance lessons multiplied by the number of tracks per class = X (price per person in class to view 10 tracks)
• X multiplied by 20 (number of views achieved) = Y (price for 20 people watching 10 tracks in the class)
• Y multiplied by 14 (number of weekly classes) = Z
• Annual Licence Fee = Z multiplied by 52 (number of weeks in a year lessons take place)