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What licences do I need to have in place to have live music at my event?
Having live music at your event isn’t as simple as hiring a stage and performers, there’s a number of licences needed to legally be able to host this type of event.
We’re breaking it down for you and pointing you in the right direction to get you started with your licences.
A performance of live music, whether it be karaoke, a band or a choir is a licensable act and therefore requires a permit for you to be able to do it at your event. There are two types of licenses that will cover your event for these, a Premises licence and a Temporary Event Notice.
Premises Licences
A premises licence covers a specified area for licensable activities and is provided by your local authority. This will allow you to have live music at your event, to sell alcohol and to serve refreshments after a certain time. It will also enable you to have more event attendees (for an extra fee).
This licence is great if you plan on holding a large event in a venue that doesn’t have a licence already, although many event venues to already have a licence in place and you may be able to host your event under their licence, it’s best to check when you are looking at a venue. If you own the venue, it’s a good addition to have so that you can hold numerous event a year and hire it out to other event companies.
TEN (Temporary Event Notice)
A Temporary Event Notice (TEN) covers what the premises licence does and is great if you the event site doesn’t already have a licence. It covers you for one event, as long as it’s for less than 500 people (including staff) and runs for less than 7 days. You can apply for up to 5 TEN’s a year, and a venue can have 20 TEN’s badged to them over a year.
Without a licence you run the risk of a fine or being a prison sentence of six months, or both, so don’t forget your licencing when planning your event.
You will also need a music licence to accompany your premises licence. Again there are two different ones, make sure to check which one works for you.
PRS (Performing Right Society) & PPL
The PRS music licence contributes to performers work and is a type of royalty paid for having their work performed live. It’s an administrative business that pays for permission to play other people’s work live. Without them, event organisers would need to contact thousands of artists, producers, songwriters etc to get permission to perform their music. If you don’t pay for the rights to perform you will be in breach of copyright, so it’s a licence you will need if you want to put on a live performance.
The difference between PPL and PRS as per their website:
“PPL and PRS for Music both license the use of music and collect royalties for the music industry, but each represents different rightsholders and have separate licences, terms and conditions.
PPL and PRS for Music are two separate collective management organisations (CMOs). PPL collects and distributes money on behalf of performers and record companies for the use of their recorded music. PRS for Music collects and distributes money on behalf of songwriters, composers and music publishers, for the use of their musical compositions and lyrics.”
You can call their helpline to discuss rates, fees and ask any additional questions about the licence.
We highly recommend you speak to your local council and PPL&PRS to discuss your event and which options are best for you, based on event size, location and budget.
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Koncept Productions Ltd
Unit 11, Vision Business Park
Preston Place
Upper Caldecote
Biggleswade
Beds
SG18 9GQ
01462 529009
hire@konceptproductions.co.uk
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