Radio Broadcasting

PPL issues licences to all radio stations in the UK, Isle of Man and Channel Islands that use sound recordings as part of their programming material. Radio now includes many different forms of delivery; from traditional FM and AM broadcasting through to DAB, DTT (Freeview etc.), Satellite, and online streaming.

PPL also issues licences for the increasing number of services that are now offering interactive Internet radio and/or “listen again” services online.

A PPL licence enables broadcasters to choose from millions of sound recordings without having to obtain clearance for each track directly.

As a guide, licences are usually subject to the following restrictions:

  • usage in advertisements, signature tunes and station identity signals is excluded
  • re-mixing or editing the sound recording is excluded other than for broadcasting less then the full length of the sound recording
  • usage in circumstances where it may be reasonably considered detrimental to the performer or record company is excluded

For ease of use, PPL offers a number of categories of radio licence:

Commercial Radio
Community Radio
Student Radio
Hospital Radio
Restricted Service Radio
Online & Mobile Radio

Non-interactive Online Radio

Many services now broadcast online, whether as an online-only radio service, or as a simulcast of an AM/FM or DAB broadcast.


There are two PPL licences available for non-interactive online radio, the PPL Small Webcaster Licence for small-scale services, and the PPL Standard Webcaster Licence.

I already have a PRS licence

PPL and the MCPS-PRS Alliance are two separate organisations licensing different rights on behalf of their members.

Where do licence fees go?

PPL collects revenues for the broadcast of recorded music and distributes to record company and performer members.