Internet Radio Licensing Guide: What Licences You Need in 2026
Running an internet radio station is easier technically than it has ever been. With software such as Icecast or SHOUTcast, a website and a streaming server, almost anyone can get a station online.
But being able to stream music doesn't automatically mean you have permission to broadcast it.
If you're running an internet radio station from the UK and playing commercially released music, music licensing is something you need to understand.
This guide explains the main licences a UK internet radio station may need in 2026, including the changes introduced by PRS for Music.
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Why Does Internet Radio Need Music Licences?
A commercially released song normally involves more than one set of rights.
There are rights associated with the song itself — including the songwriter, composer and music publisher — and separate rights associated with the sound recording, involving performers and record companies.
This is why an internet radio station playing commercial recordings may need licences covering both sides of the music.
For UK internet radio, two organisations you're likely to encounter are:
PRS for Music – principally concerned with rights in musical compositions.
PPL – licenses recorded music on behalf of performers and recording rightsholders.
Having permission covering one set of rights does not necessarily mean the other rights are covered.
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PRS for Music – Internet Radio Licence
There was an important change to UK internet-radio licensing in late 2025.
PRS for Music introduced its dedicated Internet Radio Licence on 1 October 2025, replacing the old Limited Online Music Licence schemes, commonly known as LOML and LOML+, for UK internet radio stations.
That means older articles telling new UK internet stations simply to purchase a LOML may now be out of date.
The newer licence uses measures including listener hours, revenue and subscriber numbers, depending on the type of station.
For the scheme introduced in October 2025, PRS published an annual minimum fee of £193 + VAT, covering up to 9,650 listener hours or up to 536 subscribers over a 12-month period.
For non-commercial/not-for-profit stations, the published structure included:
Up to 800 listener hours per month: £193 + VAT
Up to 1,600 listener hours per month: £386 + VAT
Above this level: a listener-hour calculation applies.
Advertising/sponsorship-supported stations and subscription services have different calculations.
PRS states that monetary amounts under the scheme are subject to annual inflation adjustment, so station owners should always check the current tariff before budgeting.
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PPL – Linear Webcast Licence
If your internet radio station plays recorded music, the other major licence to investigate is PPL's Linear Webcast Licence.
PPL describes this as the licence for UK-based, non-interactive online linear webcast services such as internet radio stations and webcast channels.
It covers the use of recorded music within PPL's repertoire and can also provide rights to copy tracks onto a central database or playout system for providing the radio service.
For 2026, PPL publishes several bands.
For example:
Band 1
Up to 150,000 performances per calendar year.
£207 + VAT per channel, per calendar year.
Band 2
150,001–270,000 performances per calendar year.
£345 + VAT per channel, per calendar year.
Higher-use stations operate under different arrangements.
PPL's 2026 information also gives a UK rate per performance of £0.001380 for calculations where that rate applies.
Using an assumed 12 recorded tracks per hour, PPL gives an average equivalent of approximately £0.01656 per listener hour.
These figures can change, and your station's circumstances determine which band or calculation applies, so check directly with PPL before launching or renewing.
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So Do I Need Both PPL and PRS?
For a typical UK internet radio station broadcasting commercially released recorded music, you should investigate both sets of rights.
A simple way of thinking about it is:
PRS for Music → the music/songwriting side
PPL → the recorded-performance/recording side
Don't assume that paying one automatically covers everything required by the other.
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What Is TheMusicLicence?
This causes quite a lot of confusion.
You may have seen TheMusicLicence, which is administered by PPL PRS Ltd.
That licence is commonly associated with businesses and organisations playing music at physical premises — such as shops, offices, restaurants, pubs and other workplaces or public locations.
It should not simply be treated as the standard licence for operating an internet-only radio station.
For online radio, look specifically at the internet-radio/webcasting licences offered by PRS for Music and PPL.
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What Counts as Linear Internet Radio?
Traditional internet radio is normally linear.
That basically means everybody connected to the stream hears the same programme at approximately the same time.
For example:
> DJ Weedy D – 8pm
> DJ Kev C – 10pm
> Automated music – midnight
Listeners tune in and hear whatever the station is currently broadcasting.
That's very different from an on-demand music service where the listener chooses individual tracks, skips songs, rewinds programmes or selects exactly what to hear next.
This distinction is important because PPL's Linear Webcast Licence does not cover every interactive or on-demand service.
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What Isn't Covered by PPL's Linear Webcast Licence?
PPL specifically identifies a number of activities that aren't covered by its standard Linear Webcast Licence.
These include services allowing listeners to:
- skip tracks;
- pause programmes;
- rewind or fast-forward;
- influence track/artist frequency through interactive ratings;
- download programmes containing recorded music;
- access programmes on demand.
Podcasts containing commercial music can therefore create a completely different licensing situation from a normal live radio stream.
Don't assume that because a track was legal to broadcast live, you can automatically put the whole show online permanently as a downloadable podcast.
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What About Listen Again?
This area needs particular care because PRS and PPL licensing isn't identical.
PRS's newer Internet Radio Licence introduced provisions for certain catch-up/listen-again functionality, including some content available for a limited period following the original broadcast.
However, that does not automatically mean PPL's standard Linear Webcast Licence covers the same functionality.
PPL states that its Linear Webcast Licence doesn't cover on-demand programme playback.
Therefore, before adding a Listen Again section containing commercial recordings, check that every relevant right is covered.
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What About DJ Mixes?
DJ mixes are another common source of confusion.
Uploading a two-hour DJ mix containing copyrighted tracks is different from broadcasting a live linear radio stream.
Services such as Mixcloud have their own licensing arrangements and rules for content hosted through their platforms.
If you host DJ mixes yourself, however, don't assume your normal live internet-radio licences automatically give you permission to provide those mixes permanently on demand.
The safest approach is to determine separately whether you have the required rights for:
Live radio
Listen-again programmes
DJ mixes
Downloads
Podcasts
They aren't necessarily the same thing legally.
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What About YouTube, Mixcloud and Other Embedded Players?
Embedding content hosted by an established platform is also different from taking the audio and broadcasting it yourself.
If a video is legitimately available through YouTube's official embedded player, for example, the content remains hosted and delivered through YouTube.
Similarly, embedding a Mixcloud player isn't the same thing as downloading that DJ mix and putting the MP3 onto your own server.
This is particularly relevant to modern radio and music-discovery websites that combine traditional radio with legally embedded content.
However, an embed shouldn't be treated as permission to copy, download, rebroadcast or re-host the underlying recording.
Always follow the platform's terms and the rightsholder's restrictions.
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What About Independent Artists?
Independent artists can give a radio station permission to play their music.
That's excellent for underground radio and music-discovery stations.
But make sure the person giving permission actually controls all of the necessary rights.
For example, a producer might own their recording but another person could own part of the composition.
Written permission is much better than simply receiving an MP3 with the message:
> "Play this on your station."
Keep records of permissions wherever possible.
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What About Royalty-Free Music?
Music specifically licensed as royalty-free or under an appropriate direct licence can be another option.
But royalty-free doesn't necessarily mean copyright-free.
Read the actual licence.
Some royalty-free licences allow use in videos but prohibit radio broadcasting. Others allow commercial use but don't permit redistribution or standalone streaming.
The licence terms matter more than the words "royalty free" on a download page.
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Can I Stream Outside the UK?
Internet radio is global by nature, which creates another important issue.
A UK licence doesn't automatically mean unlimited worldwide rights.
PPL says its Linear Webcast Licence can permit streaming into a number of territories outside the UK, subject to its territorial arrangements and relevant licence conditions.
If your station deliberately targets listeners internationally, check which countries your licence covers.
Geo-blocking may sometimes be necessary where the rights you hold don't cover particular territories.
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Do I Need an Ofcom Licence?
An internet-only radio station is different from a traditional AM, FM or DAB broadcaster.
If you're simply operating an online stream, don't assume that you need the same Ofcom broadcasting licence as an FM or DAB station.
However, if you're moving onto terrestrial radio, community radio, small-scale DAB or another regulated broadcast platform, different requirements can apply.
Music copyright licences and broadcast-regulatory licences are separate issues.
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What If My Station Makes No Money?
Being non-commercial doesn't automatically mean copyrighted music becomes free to use.
PRS specifically has provisions for non-commercial/not-for-profit internet radio stations, demonstrating that these services can still require licensing.
Likewise, PPL licensing requirements are based on how recorded music is used rather than simply whether the station makes a profit.
A hobby station with ten listeners can still be using copyrighted recordings.
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What If I Don't Get A Licence?
If your station requires permission to broadcast copyrighted music and you operate without it, you could be infringing copyright.
PPL states that a broadcaster requiring its licence but operating without one may ultimately face legal proceedings. A court could potentially require outstanding fees and legal costs to be paid.
For a small station, sorting licensing out before launching is much easier than dealing with copyright problems later.
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Example: Small UK Underground Internet Station
Imagine you've created:
WGR Underground Radio
The station:
- operates from the UK;
- broadcasts 24/7;
- uses an Icecast or SHOUTcast stream;
- plays UK hardcore, Makina, oldskool, jungle and trance;
- has live DJs;
- uses an automated playout system when DJs aren't live;
- doesn't allow listeners to select individual tracks.
You would investigate:
1. PRS for Music Internet Radio Licence
For the rights administered through PRS.
2. PPL Linear Webcast Licence
For commercially released recorded music represented through PPL.
You would then keep records of listener figures and music usage as required under your licences.
If you later add downloadable DJ mixes, podcasts or permanent listen-again programmes, you'd check those features separately before launching them.
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Internet Radio Licensing Checklist – 2026
Before starting a UK internet radio station:
☐ Decide whether your service is linear or interactive.
☐ Work out whether you're playing commercially released music.
☐ Check the current PRS for Music Internet Radio Licence.
☐ Check the current PPL Linear Webcast Licence.
☐ Estimate your annual listener hours/performance figures.
☐ Check whether your station is commercial or non-commercial under the relevant licence definitions.
☐ Check whether advertising or sponsorship changes your licence category.
☐ Check international/territorial coverage.
☐ Keep records of tracks played.
☐ Keep accurate listener statistics.
☐ Keep written permission for directly licensed independent music.
☐ Check licensing separately before adding podcasts.
☐ Check licensing separately before adding downloadable DJ mixes.
☐ Check the rights required for listen-again/on-demand programmes.
☐ Don't assume YouTube or Mixcloud content can simply be downloaded and rebroadcast.
☐ Review licence tariffs each year.
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Final Thoughts
Internet radio is still one of the best ways for DJs, music collectors and underground scenes to share music and discover artists.
But the technology and the licensing system have changed.
One of the biggest UK changes is that the old PRS LOML/LOML+ model has been replaced for UK internet radio stations by the Internet Radio Licence introduced in October 2025.
For a conventional UK online station playing commercial recordings in 2026, the two organisations you'll normally want to check first are:
PRS for Music – Internet Radio Licence
and
PPL – Linear Webcast Licence
Most importantly, don't rely on an old internet-radio tutorial from 2015 or 2020. Check the current terms directly with PRS and PPL before launching, because tariffs, thresholds and licence conditions can change.
Updated: September 2026
*This article provides general information about UK internet-radio licensing and isn't legal advice.*