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Using Music on the Internet?

If you want to set up an Internet radio station (“Webcasting”), or stream music over the Internet (“Streaming”), or simultaneously transmit your terrestrial radio station’s output over the Internet (“Simulcasting”), you need a PPI licence.

Webcasters

You need to apply for a PPI Non-Interactive Internet Radio Services Licence and enter into an Agreement with PPI. PPI offers a discounted rate for Small Webcasters with annual revenue of less than €6,000 and serving less than 200,000 total streams annually. A “stream” is a listener connection. Please refer to the Tariff book in relation to PPI’s Non-Interactive Internet Radio Services tariff.

There are a number of restrictions but the main ones are:

  • The music you webcast must not be downloadable
  • Your listeners are not allowed to skip or request specific tracks
  • You must use stream ripping countermeasures

Music Streaming

You need to apply for a PPI Music Streaming Licence and enter into an Agreement with PPI. PPI offers a discounted rate for Small Webcasters with annual revenue of less than €6,000 and serving less than 200,000 total streams annually. A “stream” is a listener connection. Review PPI’s Non-Interactive Internet Radio Services tariff for Music Streaming.

here are a number of restrictions but the main ones are:

  • The music you stream must not be downloadable
  • Your listeners may pause, rewind, skip and “like” tracks, but only a limited number of times.
  • Listeners may not request specific tracks
  • You must use stream ripping countermeasures

Simulcasting

PPI is mandated to licence the simulcast of PPI-licensed terrestrial radio stations. Terrestrial stations which are not licensed by PPI, or which are not licensed by Coimisiún na Meán i.e. “pirate radio”, may not apply for a PPI Simulcast Licence. Eligible stations should review PPI’s tariff for Simulcasting.

Podcasts

Sorry but PPI is not currently mandated by its members to license the inclusion of music in podcasts. This can only be licensed directly by the record companies whose tracks you want to include in the podcast. Radio stations which want to make podcasts of shows containing music tracks available for listeners to download or “listen-again” must first strip out the tracks before making them available.

PPI looks forward to working with the Radio Industry to agree a licensing deal for music contained in podcasts.

Photo: Brendan Duffy

Are You a Music User?

Whether you run a salon, a gym, a hotel or a retail store — if music plays in your business, you need to be covered. Applying for a PPI licence is straightforward, and our team is here to help you find the right tariff for your business type.

Find Out More