Face the music

UK wide dental defence organisation MDDUS has received calls from dentists asking what the licence requirements are for playing music in the waiting room or surgery, with reports of companies who collect royalties cracking down on unlicensed playing of music.

“Any business that plays recorded music in public is legally required to have relevant licences – and dental practices are no different,” says MDDUS Head of Dental Division Aubrey Craig.

“There are two types of licences protecting different copyright owners. Practitioners need to have both of these licences in order to have permission to play recorded music in their surgery.

“Regardless of whether dentists play the radio, cd, mp3 or other form of music, the licences need to be paid to protect the copyright of those who create, produce and publish the music or performances.”

Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) collects and distributes licence fees for the use of recorded music on behalf of record companies and performers, while Performing Right Society (PRS for Music) collects and distributes for the use of musical compositions and lyrics on behalf of songwriters, composers and publishers.