Music/TV In the Waiting Room
Under Copyright legislation, if you play music or have a television in the waiting room, or if you play music when telephone callers are on hold, you need a licence(s).
Who issues licences?
The Performing Rights Society (PRS) collects and distributes licence fees for the public performance and broadcast of musical works. The Mechanical Copyright Protection Society (MCPS) collects and distributes royalties generated from the recording of music onto many different formats. This income is distributed to their members - writers and publishers of music. The MCPS-PRS Alliance (PRS-MCPS) manages common activities, services both societies and is jointly owned by them.
More information about copyright
Phonographic Performance Ltd. (PPL) is a music industry organisation collecting and distributing airplay and public performance royalties in the UK. More info on PPL licences -
What licence(s) should you have?
If you have a television in the waiting room you need:
- a television licence - details of how to obtain a licence
- a PRS-MCPS Licence - details of how to obtain a licence
- a PPL Licence - details of how to obtain a licence
If you have radio music playing in the waiting room you need:
- a PRS-MCPS Licence - details of how to obtain a licence
- a PPL Licence - details of how to obtain a licence
If you play music from tape or CD you need:
- a PRS-MCPS Licence - details of how to obtain a licence
- a PPL Licence - details of how to obtain a licence
If your telephone system plays music while callers are on hold, you may need a PRS-MCPS Licence and/or PPL Licence - ask your phone system supplier for details.
Further information:
Performing Rights Society: Phone 0800 068 48 28
Mechanical Copyright Protection Society: Phone 0800 068 48 28
Phonographic Performance Ltd.: phone 020 7534 1000
