Music and Sound Recordings

If you wish to use music and/or a sound recording that falls within the scope of the economic rights but not one of the exceptions to copyright, a licence may be offered in some cases by a collective licensing body:

• public performance, broadcasting and use in a cable programme of most music is licensed by the Performing Right Society (PRS) ;
• making mechanical copies (recording) music is licensed by the Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society (MCPS);
• public performance, broadcasting, use in a cable programme and making mechanical copies (dubbing) of sound recordings is licensed by Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) ;
• public performance and broadcasting of music videos is licensed by Video Performance Limited (VPL);
• copying of religious music is licensed by Christian Copyright Licensing (Europe) .

If you wish to use a sound recording, you may need a licence for use of the music recorded on it as well.

If you or your prospective users are unhappy about the terms and conditions offered by collective licensing bodies, you may be able to seek independent adjudication on the matter from the Copyright Tribunal.

If you wish to use music and there is no collective licensing, you may be able to obtain a licence from the copyright owner.