Andrew Goodacre, CEO of the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira), explains why music licensing deserves a place on every furniture retailer's checklist – and what many shop owners don't realise they need to know …
When we talk about cost pressures facing independent retailers, the conversation usually focuses on business rates, energy bills, wages and retail crime. These are the big, visible battles that keep us up at night. But there's another cost that catches retailers out regularly, and many shop owners don't even realise it exists until they get a letter demanding money they didn't know they owed.
I'm talking about music licensing – a hidden cost that can blindside even the most careful business owner.
It sounds straightforward, doesn't it? You want music in your showroom to create the right atmosphere and help customers relax as they browse, so you play the radio or stream something via Spotify. What could possibly be complicated about that? The answer, unfortunately, is quite a lot. If you're playing music in a commercial space – and that includes every furniture showroom – you need a music licence from PRS and PPL. It doesn't matter if it's the radio, a CD, or a streaming service. If customers can hear it, you technically need a licence.
The licensing landscape is bewilderingly complex. There are around 60 different tariffs depending on the type of business you run, the size of your space, your equipment, and a dozen other variables. A small independent furniture store pays differently to a large department store, which pays differently to a leisure facility. Work it out yourself? Good luck. Most retailers can't, and that's by design – the system is deliberately opaque.
Then there's enforcement. PRS and PPL have become increasingly aggressive in tracking down retailers without licences, and the consequences are severe. If you're caught playing music without a licence, you face a 50% premium on top of whatever the standard costs would have been. Add in late payment fees, and the bill can spiral quickly. We've had retailers tell us stories of £700 demands for single shops, escalating into thousands of pounds, with aggressive letters and even staff being confronted in-store.
This is where things get really unfair. A new furniture retailer, setting up their showroom for the first time, might not even know a licence is required. They're focused on stock, staffing, getting the doors open. Music licensing isn't on their radar. Then one day a letter arrives, demanding payment for months they didn't even know they were liable. We've seen retailers penalised for things they didn't know they were doing wrong.
But here's the thing – there's an alternative that many retailers don't know about. Royalty-free music designed specifically for retail environments. It's not cheap, but it's significantly cheaper than traditional licensing – an average of 70% savings compared to standard PRS and PPL costs. And crucially, it removes the whole minefield of compliance. You're covered. You're not worrying about enforcement. You're not getting threatening letters.
That's precisely why we've just released an episode of our High Street Matters podcast dedicated entirely to this issue. We spoke with Grant Thompson from Background Sounds, who's been supporting approaching 1,000 retailers across the UK with royalty-free music solutions. They offer 67,000 tracks across dozens of playlists, updated regularly, all accessible via a simple streaming platform. Retailers tell us their customers actually prefer it – it's curated, it's inoffensive, it creates the kind of sophisticated atmosphere that furniture shopping demands.
The cost saving is real, but there's something else that matters just as much – peace of mind. You know you're compliant. You're not exposed to enforcement action. You're not going to wake up to a threatening letter from PRS and PPL.
So here's my advice. If you're running a furniture business and you have music playing in your showroom, do yourself a favour – put music licensing on your checklist right now. Don't wait until you get caught out. Understand your obligations, explore your options, and make an informed decision. If you go the traditional route with PRS and PPL, that's fine – just know what you're signing up to. If you go the royalty-free route, you'll probably save money and definitely save stress.
For Bira members, there's an additional incentive. We've negotiated a special discount with Background Sounds, making the royalty-free option even more cost effective.
Independent retail faces enough cost pressures without adding unnecessary risk and expense on top. Music licensing is one area where you can actually take control, reduce costs, and remove compliance headaches all at once. Do it now, before you get that letter.
