You'll find a breakdown of the current position of each of the licensing bodies we deal with below. If you have any questions please email hello@mymusicsolutions.com for impartial advice before you speak with them.
They have confirmed, for the most part, that no fees will be due for any period of closure due to Covid 19 which is excellent news. But there are a number of additional things you can do to ensure the maximum amount of money stays as operational funds. We can help with forecasting, payment terms, getting additional refunds that may have been overpayments for 2019/20 and even advice on how to remove non essential music across your business.
PPL PRS
PPL PRS Ltd fully appreciates the pressures affecting many businesses across the UK as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
We wish to reassure customers of TheMusicLicence that we are introducing a number of measures to support them during these unprecedented times. These include:
not charging customers for their music usage during the period they are closed (temporarily or permanently) due to COVID-19;
changes to our payment policies to introduce further flexibility, including deferred payments, for customers during this difficult period; and
temporary suspension of late payment surcharges.
At the moment we do not yet know how long businesses will be closed for. We can confirm that you will not be charged for the period that your business is closed as a result of you following the Government’s guidance on COVID-19.
If you have already paid your latest invoice for the TheMusicLicence, when your licence is due for its next review, we will discuss the impact of COVID-19 on your music usage and amend your account to credit or refund you for the period that your business was closed.
If you have not yet paid your latest invoice, we can discuss the impact of COVID-19 on your music usage, and take this into account.
MPLC
MPLC appreciates that these are exceptional circumstances affecting many businesses and we do wish to be as supportive as possible during these unprecedented times.
The media industry has itself been seriously hit economically with cinemas closed, television and film production halted and businesses closing, causing a dramatic impact on our members and the livelihoods of creators, many of whom are freelance or small businesses themselves.
MPLC are now introducing a number of measures to show support during these very difficult times.
We have firstly chosen to temporarily suspend outbound calls to the hospitality sector about their invoice balances, until 30 April 2020. We will then review the situation and if appropriate, extend the suspension in line with guidance from the Government. You can, if you wish, still continue to make payment in the normal way and changes in your usage, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, will of course be taken into account at this point.
Should you wish to delay payment of your licence at this time due to the current COVID-19 situation, then we will contact you again after 30 April 2020, dependent on further Government advice. Pending payment, you will still be able to legally play films and TV programmes in line with the terms and conditions of your licence.
We understand your business may be temporarily closed due to the Government guidance on COVID-19. The position at this time is very unclear and we do not know how long businesses will be closed. MPLC can though confirm you will be left at no financial disadvantage for the period that your business has been closed following the Government’s guidance.
If you have already paid your latest invoice then when your licence is due for its next renewal, we will discuss the impact of COVID-19 on your usage and ensure your business is at no financial disadvantage for the period that your business was closed. If you have not yet paid your latest invoice, please contact our Client Services team to discuss how we can help you. We can discuss the impact of COVID-19 on your usage and take this into account. If it would be of benefit to spread payment of any outstanding balance by instalments, then this can also be reviewed with our Credit Control Team.
If your licence has been issued but you have not yet made payment then your licence will remain in place for your business, subject to our standard terms and conditions. We can help with different payment options based on your circumstances, so please contact our Client Services team to discuss. If your business is currently closed following the Government’s guidance on COVID-19, we will also discuss the impact on your usage and how we will take this into account. Please be assured your business will be at no financial disadvantage.
Finally, with immediate effect we have put a freeze on any late payment fees.
TV LICENSING
Correct as of 10th June 2020
We are currently reviewing our refund and TV Licence suspension policy and once the decision has been made, we will contact you regarding your query.
You don’t need to contact us again in relation to same query as we have kept your details on record and will get back to you with the outcome.