What is the higher royalty rate and when does it apply?
It is the music user’s responsibility to ensure they have the correct licences in place before using any copyright material. The higher royalty rate helps cover our costs of identifying and contacting businesses and organisations using music without a licence. Most of our tariffs have a higher royalty rate, which applies if the music user has not obtained a licence before starting to play music in their premises or at their event. The higher royalty rate is the standard rate plus 50%, and applies to the first year of the licence only. The higher rate is not a statutory fine. The higher royalty rate may be applied whenever the user has not applied for a licence in advance.
