Which Licensing Bodies Should an Online Radio Station Check?

Before broadcasting music online, check which licensing bodies apply to your station. In the UK, PRS for Music covers rights connected to songwriters, composers, and publishers, while PPL covers rights connected to recorded music, performers, and record companies. Some stations may also need to consider licensing in other countries if they actively target listeners outside the UK. If your station is a community, commercial, charity, hobby, or business service, the correct licence may differ. Do not assume another station’s licence applies to your station. Start by making a simple list of what you will play, where your listeners are based, whether you earn revenue, and whether shows are live, automated, or repeated. Send that information to the licensing body and ask for the correct guidance.