Using Sonos & Streaming Services on commercial premesis

[shopper150]

Do Apple Music, Spotify or Amazon Music permit the streaming of music on commercial premises (e.g. offices or retail shops)?

I understand that a PPL license would be required. However, what is the difference between this and a PRS license?

TIA

[okgo]

Would anyone care?

SO many places do this with probably not even a moments thought about whether its ok or not?

[shopper150]

okgo said:

Would anyone care?

SO many places do this with probably not even a moments thought about whether its ok or not?

I'm sure they do.
It's nice to know and do things properly, where practical.

[VEX]

Spotify do it in a slightly different way.

I am planning to use it for a gym system I have to put in this year, but with different music styles that I can use for treatment rooms, aerobic areas and free weights it is perfect for the client.

https://www.soundtrackyourbrand.com/soundtrack-bus...

I don’t think you need a PRS licence just a PPL one (or maybe the other way round) but give them a call they are helpful and will guide you with what you need. I have done 3 or 4 times in the past.

V.

[Flat-6]

TBH the PPL / PRS licensing system is completely unfit for purpose and extortionate.

They wanted to charge me over £4000 just to play the odd bit of background music at the safe zone of my paintball field, their system had no way of dealing with the fact that it was "A: outdoors and B: only running a couple of hours for 1-2 days a week.
Basically the only way they could quote was to say i was having an outdoor concert every day.

I told them where to shove it, i'll dance around with a lute naked instead.

[Frimley111R]

Flat-6 said:

I told them where to shove it, i'll dance around with a lute naked instead.

Your £4000 is in the post!!!

[StevieBee]

I ran a Community Radio station for five years and never really got my head around it. It's something along the lines of : PRS for Music (Performing Rights Society) is the body that distributes royalties gained through fees from sale if the Phonographic Performance Licence (PPL), which is administered by a separate body known as Phonographic Performance Limited. The latter related to broadcasting.

Thankfully, this has recently been simplified and you now just need one license.

Question is, do you need one.

Putting aside the moral issues, you probably do. A workplace is considered a public place and therefore, you need a licence to play music from any source.

But would they know? Probably not. They do occasionally have a purge and contact businesses demanding payment.

[Flat-6]

I'm seriously considering writing to the representatives of (for example) Queen, and paying them directly for every play of their music.

Thereby satisfying any legal obligation.

[Derek Withers]

I have worked in the same industry for a very long time. We have had them ring the booking office with the radio playing in the background and told them "no, no music playing here" and that was it.