Alternative to PPL & PRS for Business Music in the UK
Royalty-free background music for commercial use from €42/year, with certificate and licence
Choose your licence according to your premises size
What are PPL, PRS for Music and TheMusicLicence?
PPL and PRS for Music are UK music licensing organisations. PPL is associated with rights in sound recordings, while PRS for Music licenses the use of musical works on behalf of songwriters, composers and publishers. Through their joint venture, PPL PRS Ltd, businesses can obtain TheMusicLicence for music use in public or commercial settings.
If a business plays music that falls within the repertoire covered by these organisations, a licence may be needed depending on the type of premises, the way the music is used and the source of the content being played. That is why it is important to distinguish mainstream commercial music from a separately licensed business music catalogue.
What does official UK guidance say?
Official UK guidance explains that businesses will usually need TheMusicLicence if they play recorded music in public or at their business, including background music played from a CD, radio or music channel. It also explains that businesses usually need a licence to play live or recorded music in public in places such as shops, offices, hairdressers, hotels, restaurants, pubs, gyms and other commercial spaces.
The same guidance also states that you do not need a licence to play royalty-free music. For that reason, it is essential to identify exactly what music is being used in the venue, where it comes from, and whether it belongs to a repertoire licensed through collective management or to a separately licensed catalogue such as SoundToro.
Can I use Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube Music in my business?
Services such as Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube Music are generally intended for personal and private use under their own terms. Having a paid subscription does not automatically mean that public playback in a shop, café, restaurant, hotel, office or other business environment is covered for commercial use.
If you need background music for business use, the safest approach is to use a service designed specifically for professional environments, with appropriate documentation, a business-focused catalogue and clear service conditions.
Is there an alternative to PPL & PRS?
Yes, an alternative to PPL & PRS can exist where a business uses only a separately licensed catalogue that is provided for commercial use and does not rely on repertoire controlled through the usual collective licensing route for the music actually being played.
SoundToro offers this type of solution: a professional music catalogue available via streaming, together with service documentation and a usage certificate showing access to and use of the SoundToro catalogue within the scope of the service. The coverage applies only to the SoundToro catalogue played through the official platform.
Important: if you continue to use radio, TV, Spotify, YouTube or mainstream commercial repertoire alongside SoundToro, those uses are not covered by our certificate and may require separate authorisations or licences.
What about TV or radio in my venue?
TV and radio broadcasts can include music, programme themes, advertising breaks, sports coverage and other protected content. These sources are separate from a dedicated background music service and should not be treated as if they were part of the same catalogue.
If your aim is to structure music use in your venue correctly, it is important to distinguish SoundToro playback from television, radio and other external audio or audiovisual sources. The SoundToro certificate and service documentation cover only the SoundToro catalogue played through the official platform.
SoundToro compared with other ways to play music in your business
Spotify, YouTube or Apple Music
Commercial use: not designed for business premises.
Certificate: no.
Limitation: personal use, not professional use.
Radio or television
Commercial use: depends on the content being played.
Certificate: not specific.
Limitation: may involve separate rights or licences.
Repertoire licensed by PPL & PRS
Commercial use: subject to applicable tariffs and conditions.
Certificate: depending on the licence or contract.
Limitation: costs may vary by activity, premises and repertoire.
SoundToro
Commercial use: yes, for the SoundToro catalogue.
Certificate: yes.
Advantage: annual licence from €42. Online activation.
Your SoundToro certificate and service documentation
With SoundToro, you gain access to a royalty-free music catalogue for commercial use created for shops, restaurants, hotels, offices, clinics, gyms, salons and many other professional environments that want a simple and documented music solution.
From your customer area, you can view and download a certificate confirming access to and use of the SoundToro catalogue under the conditions of the service and your subscription. This document includes the details associated with your venue and account.
The certificate applies only to the SoundToro catalogue played through the official platform. Any use of external music, consumer streaming services, radio, TV or other third-party content should be assessed separately.
- If your venue uses only the SoundToro catalogue and your service licence is active, your SoundToro certificate helps document the source of the music being played in your premises. If you also use external music sources — such as radio, TV, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music or mainstream commercially released recordings — those uses are not covered by the SoundToro certificate and may require separate licences or permissions depending on the applicable rules.
- If your business receives a licensing query, you may be asked to explain what music is being played, where it comes from and what authorisation you have. If you cannot evidence the source of the repertoire or the existence of a valid licence, you may be asked to regularise the situation or provide additional information. With SoundToro, you have a subscription, invoice and usage certificate linked to the SoundToro catalogue.
- Not every situation is identical, but many businesses that play music for staff, customers or visitors will usually need TheMusicLicence if the music used falls within the repertoire licensed through PPL and PRS for Music. The answer depends on what music is actually being played, where it comes from, who can hear it and whether the venue is using radio, TV, mainstream recordings or a separately licensed catalogue intended for business use.
- SoundToro can be an alternative for businesses that want to use only a separately licensed music catalogue designed for commercial use. The service provides streaming access to the SoundToro catalogue together with a usage certificate and supporting service documentation. This coverage relates only to the SoundToro catalogue played via the official platform, so any other music source used in the venue would need to be considered separately.
- The SoundToro certificate confirms access to and use of the SoundToro catalogue under the service conditions and your subscription. It typically includes the business or venue details, the address of the premises, the declared size of the premises and the subscription validity period. It is a useful document to support the fact that your venue uses the SoundToro catalogue, but its scope is limited strictly to that catalogue played through the official platform.
- As a general rule, consumer streaming services such as Spotify are intended for personal, non-commercial use. Even with a paid plan, that does not automatically authorise public playback in a commercial venue. If you need music for a public-facing business environment, it is better to use a music service that is specifically designed for business use and that provides clear supporting documentation.
- Yes, in some cases. Official UK guidance explains that permission to use copyright material can sometimes be obtained directly from the rights holder, although more often it is granted through a licensing body. This is one reason why it is important to distinguish between mainstream repertoire licensed through collective management and a separately licensed catalogue provided for commercial use.
- Yes. SoundToro is intended for a wide range of professional environments, including retail, hospitality, offices, clinics, gyms, spas, salons and many other customer-facing or employee-facing business premises. The setup is straightforward: log in, choose the channel that fits your business and play the music from a compatible internet-connected device through your existing sound system.
- In that case, each source should be treated separately. The SoundToro certificate and service documentation apply only to the SoundToro catalogue played through the official platform. TV channels, radio broadcasts, sports coverage, audiovisual content or third-party music services are outside that scope and may raise separate licensing questions. Keeping those sources clearly separated helps you understand exactly what SoundToro does and does not cover.
- SoundToro covers the use of the SoundToro catalogue within the scope of the service. If your venue also uses other music sources such as radio, TV, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music or mainstream commercially released recordings, those sources should be reviewed separately. The safest position is to ensure that your venue uses only the SoundToro catalogue if you want the service documentation and certificate to match exactly what is being played in the premises.
- The free trial lets you explore the platform, listen to different channels and check whether the service suits your venue before continuing with a full subscription. During the trial, you can test the music on your own system, assess the atmosphere it creates and become familiar with the customer area. The usage certificate is not available during the free trial; it is generated after the corresponding licence has been subscribed.
- No. In most cases, all you need is an internet connection, a compatible device and a sound system. You can play SoundToro from a computer, tablet or other compatible device and connect it to your speakers via cable or Bluetooth, depending on your venue setup. The idea is to offer a practical background music solution for real commercial environments, without unnecessary complexity.
- The SoundToro catalogue includes a broad range of channels suitable for business use, such as pop, chill out, lounge, jazz, ambient, soft electronic, chill jazz, Latin, spa-friendly music and more energetic retail-focused channels. This allows each venue to choose a musical atmosphere that fits its brand, its customers and different times of day, all within a service built for commercial use.
- You should explain clearly what music source your business is using. If you use SoundToro only, you can provide your SoundToro certificate together with your invoice or subscription details from your customer area, and make clear that the music being played comes exclusively from the SoundToro catalogue. As with any music-related query, it is important that the actual use in the venue matches the service documentation you provide.