Music makes hospitality feel alive. But the licence bill? Less uplifting.
For many pubs, restaurants, hotels and clubs, PPL and PRS tariffs quietly drift out of alignment with reality. Layout changes, live music nights, refurbishments, extra screens — and suddenly you're paying for something you're not actually doing.
Or worse — you're under-declared and exposed.
Here's how to run a proper PPL PRS tariff check and ensure you're compliant and cost-efficient.
First: What Are You Actually Paying For?
Quick refresher:
- PRS covers the songwriters and composers.
- PPL covers performers and recording rights holders.
If you play recorded music in your venue — background playlists, DJs, live sport with music build-up, hotel bar ambience — you likely need both.
The issue isn't usually whether you need them.
It's whether you're on the correct tariff.
The 5 Most Common Tariff Mistakes in Hospitality
1. Paying for "Featured Music" When You Only Play Background
There's a pricing difference between:
- Background music
- DJs
- Live bands
- Ticketed events
If your venue has evolved, your tariff may not have.
2. Not Updating After Layout Changes
- Expanded floor space
- Added private dining
- Converted unused rooms
- Increased capacity
Licences are often linked to floor area and usage type. If you've refurbished or reconfigured, your licence may need adjustment.
3. Multiple Music Zones, Incorrectly Declared
- Restaurant area
- Bar area
- Terrace
- Function room
Each zone can impact your tariff banding.
If you're not accurately declaring zones, you're either:
- Overpaying
- Or under-declaring risk
Neither is ideal.
4. Seasonal or Occasional Music Not Reflected
- Live music once a month
- DJ on Saturdays
- Summer terrace events
Many venues stay on a higher tariff year-round when usage is seasonal.
A proper review can often align your licence with actual activity patterns.
5. Renewals on Autopilot
Like utilities, licences renew.
If nobody questions the basis of charge, it simply continues.
And in hospitality, "we've always paid that" is rarely a strategy.
What a Proper Music Licence Compliance Check Looks Like
If you want to tighten this up internally, create a simple Licence Factsheet per site including:
- Floor area (licensed area only)
- Maximum capacity
- Number of music zones
- Types of music used (background, DJ, live)
- Frequency of events
- Screens showing music-based broadcasts
This avoids back-and-forth during renewal and reduces risk of incorrect declarations.
Multi-Site Operators: Centralise or Lose Control
For groups, this is where cost creep happens.
Different GMs declaring slightly different things. Different renewal timings. No master register.
Create:
- A central licence log
- A renewal calendar
- A standard declaration template
- One accountable person at head office
Music licences are compliance-driven — but that doesn't mean they can't be managed commercially.
The Compliance vs Cost Balance
Let's be clear:
This is not about underpaying.
It's about paying correctly.
Over-declaration wastes money. Under-declaration risks penalties.
A structured PPL PRS tariff check ensures you're aligned with actual usage — no more, no less.
3 Practical Takeaways
- Conduct a quarterly review of where and how music is played in your venue.
- Maintain a one-page site factsheet to avoid tariff drift after refurbishments.
- Assign one named owner for licence renewals — especially in multi-site businesses.
Is Your Venue on the Right Tariff?
TaylorMade Management supports hospitality operators with:
- PPL & PRS tariff reviews
- Licence renewal management
- Compliance checks
- Multi-site centralisation
Request a Music Licence Review today and ensure you're paying the right amount — not just the usual amount.
Because in hospitality, every pound saved legally is margin earned.
