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PPL licence for corporate eventsDo you need a PPL or IPRS licence for a corporate event?

Who owns the rights in the songs at your event, which body licenses them, and what PPL’s published event tariff says a Bangalore event will cost.

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The short answer

The short answer on music licences for corporate events

Yes — playing recorded music at a corporate event in India typically needs a PPL event licence, and songs whose writers are IPRS members also need an IPRS licence. A venue’s background-music licence does not cover events. PPL’s 2025 tariff for a 300-person unsponsored event in Bangalore is ₹1,15,920.

Rules change; we confirm current requirements with the authority for your date. This page describes what organisers typically need, from the sources linked. It is not legal advice.

Who licenses what

Music licence for corporate events: the two rights in every song

Every commercially released song carries at least two copyrights — the recording and the composition — and different bodies license each.

RightWho licenses itWhen your event needs it
Sound recording (the track as released)PPL India; also Novex Communications or RMPL for the labels they representRecorded music played by a DJ, walk-in tracks, award stings, background playlists at an event
Musical and literary work (composition and lyrics)IPRS, for authors and composers who are its membersLive bands covering songs, and the composition inside recorded tracks
Performers’ (singers’) rightsISAMRA, for its membersSongs sung by its members

Sources: Fox Mandal, iPleaders on IPRS. IPRS is a copyright society registered under Section 33 of the Copyright Act, 1957.

PPL’s own tariff is explicit that a background-music licence held by a hotel or office “is not valid for any Event (e.g. Shows, promotions, product launches, fashion shows, DJ parties, New Year Events etc.)” and that a separate event licence must be obtained (PPL India tariff, w.e.f. 8 Jul 2025).

The fees

PPL licence cost for corporate events in 2025–26

PPL publishes its event tariff by attendance band and city class; Bangalore and Goa are in its top class.

Average attendanceBangalore and Goa (PPL “A class”)Other cities (incl. Kerala)
0–100₹77,280₹70,840
101–200₹96,600₹90,160
201–300₹1,15,920₹1,09,480
301–450₹1,33,952₹1,27,512
451–600₹1,54,560₹1,48,120
601–750₹1,86,760₹1,80,320
751–900₹2,18,960₹2,12,520
901–1,050₹2,38,280₹2,31,840
More than 1,050₹2,38,280 + ₹168 per person₹2,31,840 + ₹168 per person

PPL India tariff category 33(B), events without sponsors or tickets, effective 8 July 2025 (PPL India tariff, w.e.f. 8 Jul 2025). Add ₹50,000 for lawn, terrace or pool events and ₹3 lakh per celebrity appearance. Bangalore’s A class covers Bangalore urban and rural districts and surrounding areas. Sponsored or ticketed events use category 33(A); award shows 33(J). Taxes and the final category are confirmed with PPL.

Worked example

A 500-person award night on a Bangalore hotel lawn

A company hosts 500 people on a hotel lawn in Bangalore with a DJ and walk-up music for each award. There are no sponsors and no tickets, so PPL category 33(B) applies: ₹1,54,560 for 451–600 people, plus ₹50,000 because it is a lawn function — ₹2,04,560 before taxes (PPL India tariff, w.e.f. 8 Jul 2025). If a film star presents the awards, PPL adds ₹3 lakh per celebrity. If a live band also covers songs by IPRS members, an IPRS licence is needed on top; its fee is set by IPRS for the event.

Licences are taken in advance. PPL’s tariff says users without an advance licence lose the tariff rates and may face damages at a multiple of the fee (PPL India tariff, w.e.f. 8 Jul 2025); infringement can also carry criminal penalties (Fox Mandal).

What changes the answer

What changes the answer

  • Original or commissioned music. A band playing only its own original songs, or music you have commissioned with rights assigned, changes what you need — ask the artist’s management for their rights position in writing.
  • Royalty-free libraries. Licensed stock music for videos and stings may not need PPL, if the licence covers public performance.
  • Streaming. PPL’s licence covers on-ground use only, not streaming; a hybrid event needs separate digital rights. See hybrid events.
  • Sponsors and tickets. They move the event to PPL category 33(A).
FAQ

Questions people ask before they book

Is a PPL licence required for corporate events?
Typically yes, if recorded music from PPL’s repertoire is played. PPL’s tariff covers corporate, social and award functions in hotels, banquet halls and grounds, and says a venue’s background licence does not cover events. A separate event licence is taken for the date.
What is the PPL licence cost for a corporate event in Bangalore?
Under PPL’s tariff effective 8 July 2025, an event without sponsors or tickets in Bangalore costs ₹77,280 for up to 100 people, ₹1,15,920 for 201–300, ₹1,54,560 for 451–600 and ₹2,38,280 for 901–1,050, before lawn or celebrity surcharges and taxes. Kerala venues fall in PPL’s lower “other cities” band.
What is the difference between PPL and IPRS?
PPL licenses sound recordings — the released tracks. IPRS licenses the underlying musical and literary works — compositions and lyrics — for its member authors and composers. A DJ set can need both; a live band covering songs needs IPRS for the compositions.
We have a 150-person leadership dinner with a live acoustic duo — do we need a licence?
If the duo covers popular songs, an IPRS licence is likely for the compositions. If any recorded tracks are played, a PPL event licence applies — for 101–200 people in Bangalore that is ₹96,600 under the 2025 tariff. Ask the artist which songs and whose rights.
Does the hotel’s music licence cover our event?
Not for events. PPL states that a background music licence is not valid for shows, promotions, product launches, DJ parties and similar events; a separate event licence is needed. Ask the hotel what it holds, but plan to take the event licence yourself.
What happens if we play music without a licence?
PPL’s tariff says users without an advance licence lose the tariff rates and may face damages at a multiple of the fee. Copyright infringement can also lead to civil action and criminal penalties. It is cheaper to licence in advance.
The brief

Tell us about the event

Rough is fine. Headcount, a city, a month. We come back with venue options, a format and a cost range you can take to your leadership — before you commit to anything.

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  • Venue options checked for your date, headcount and layout
  • GST invoicing for your finance team

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