Every day we encounter a lot of music throughout our lives, whether we listen to the radio, watch a movie, go shopping or go to lunch, we are constantly surrounded by music. All this music must be licensed, meaning musicians can earn money by earning royalties from their recorded music. Licenses and corresponding royalties fall into four different categories: Performing Rights License and Royalties: A performing rights license is a license that allows music to be performed live or broadcast. This usually takes the form of a "general license" which gives the licensee the right to reproduce the entire collection belonging to a specific performing rights organization, in exchange for a fixed fee. Licenses to play individual recordings or albums are also available. The performer and publisher of the music get royalties every time it is played on the radio or performed live. Sync Rights License and Royalties: A sync license is required for a song to be used in television shows, films, advertising, and other content. radio, and takes its name from the 'synchronization' of a composition with the required film/image, advertisement or voice-over. A second license is sometimes required when using a specific recording of the song, called a "master license", which must be obtained from the record company. Authors and publishers receive royalties when music is used for this purpose. Mechanical Licenses and Royalties: Mechanical licenses refer to permissions granted to mechanically reproduce music on any type of media for public distribution, such as cassettes and CDs. Permission to reproduce the composition/song must be granted by the pub...... middle of paper ......s, £11.53 per minute on BBC Radio One or £19.64 per minute on BBC Radio 2 .PRS for Music should not be confused with Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) which has essentially the same purpose. However, where PRS for Music collects royalties on behalf of the author, songwriter, composer and publisher, PPL collects royalties on behalf of the artist and record company; in most cases a license from both PRS for Music and PPL is required to legally play recorded music in public. PPL members can range from session musicians and emerging artists to major record labels and global hit artists, it costs nothing to become a member of PPL.Works Citedhttp://ygynghrair.rhysllwyd.com/?page_id=257 http ://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Performing_Right_Society#Independent_Welsh_agency http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phonographic_Performance_Limited