
ENT 309 MODULES
Suppose, planning to organize a musical event in India, and includes playing recorded
music or musical videos at the event “in public”, then the event will require to have a
PPL license. Generally, it seeks to collect and distribute money on behalf of the music
recording companies and performers.
License for communication to public, Public Performance of music recordings is Mandatory
Subject to the Copyright Act of 1957, it is mandatory for all those who play Prerecorded music in
the form of Gramophone Records, Music cassettes or CDs or Radio or TV or Audio-visual etc.
for non-private purpose or in public place and\or commercial establishments and\or non-
commercial establishments, to take a prior license from Phonographic Performance
Limited(PPL).
PPL owns and\or exclusively controls public performance rights in the repertoire of many reputed music
labels, encompassing all major Indian languages, including Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu,
Marathi, Gujarati, Malayalam, Bhojpuri, etc.(both film and non-film devotional\spiritual, Ghazals, Classical,
folk, Indi-pop, etc) and English\International songs. Consequently, any communication or performance of
Indian or International music from the Sound Recordings of PPL for non-private purposes or in Public
Places or Commercial Establishments such as Hotels, Restaurants, Cinema Halls, Discotheques license
from PPL, constitutes an infringement of copyright under The Copyright Act of 1957. Such violation of
copyright is Cognizable & Non-bail able offence, attracting heavy Penalties
Licensing Streams Under PPL:
The value of music is indisputable. Music is everywhere around us: on radio and television, in films, bars,
clubs, discotheques, gyms, restaurants, hotels, offices, shopping malls, concerts, fetes, festivals,
airplanes and taxis. Recordings of music are manufactured, sold, and distributed on a large scale. Music
is an important facet of modern life.
1. Telecom Related Licenses- For Ring-back Tones, Music Messaging, IVRS, Mobile audio
streaming and ‘audio cinema’, Mobile embedded\pre-loaded and other Telecom value added
services involving the usage of sound-recordings(in whole or in part)
2. Radio License- All Private FM and Government owned Radio stations community
radio stations.
3. Public Performance (Background Music) - License of sound-recordings in public (i.e.
excluding domestic home and private vehicle), in the background. A license taken for
“Background music” does not entitle the license to exploit the licensed sound-recordings in an
event or show or concert or stage or dance-floor, etc., for which a separate\additional “Events”
license is required to be taken (see below).
4. Public Performance (Events) License- playing of sound-recordings in an event or
show or concert or stage or dance-floor, etc., where performers perform on stage or a
designated area.
Ex: A hotel or a shopping mall which has obtained a mere “background music” license needs to obtain separate
license for its discotheque, restaurants, lounge bar, spa\health club. A hotel or shopping mall or banquet-hall or
discotheque or ball-room which has obtained a mere