Music In Your Waiting Room Normally Requires a Subscription

Thinking about playing music in the waiting room?

Have you checked on the licence requirements?

This came from one of our local Practice Managers and updates our 2002 advice.

" I spoke first to Phonographic Performers Ltd, who said I would need a licence from them and also from the Performing Rights Society - it's not an either/or. This was confirmed by the PRS. The PPL collects licence fees on behalf of the musicians, whilst the PRS collects on behalf of the composers/songwriters/publishers."

PPL fees are around £112 p.a. (inc VAT) for a maximum of 30 available seats.

PRS has a Radio only licence (up to 19 seats for £68.40 and then £3.44 per seat to a maximum of 30 seats) or a CD/Radio licence (up to 9 seats for £68.40 and then up to 21 more seats, to the 30 maximum, at £6.85 per seat). These fees do not include VAT AND the radio/CD player should only be a small one with integral speakers, as there could be a different (higher) fee for one with separate speakers i.e. a sound system!

I estimate that, for 30 seats, I would be paying annual fees of £360 for a CD/Radio licence.

Is it worth it? The jury is still out.

[You may also need to have a licence if your telephone system plays music whilst 'On Hold' - 1 to 5 lines = £135 (PPL) + £112 (PRS), 6 to 15 lines = £182 (PPL) + £148 (PRS)] "