Hire & Licencing Requests

What is music licensing?

Music licensing is the process of obtaining legal permission to use a piece of music for various purposes, such as performances, arrangements, recordings, films, television, advertising, or online content. It ensures that the rights holders—composers, publishers, and artists—are fairly compensated for the use of their work. Depending on the intended use, different types of licenses may be required, such as synchronisation licenses for visual media, mechanical licenses for recordings, or print licenses for sheet music. Licensing is essential to protect intellectual property rights and to allow creative works to be used legally and ethically.

How to Request a Licence

Please submit your licensing request through the web form linked here. This process ensures that all necessary permissions are obtained efficiently and accurately.

When Do I Need a Licence?

• Print: A licence is required if you wish to print or publish any of the musical works represented by TSO Publishing.

• Arrangement or Sampling: To arrange or sample any music published by TSO Publishing, you must obtain a licence. This applies to both commercial and non-commercial publications.

• Recordings: Request a licence for making audio recordings, whether for radio broadcast, digital downloads, or distribution of physical or digital copies, both privately and commercially.

• Film, TV & Advertising (Synchronisation): A licence is necessary for the use of our music in film, advertising, online content, live streaming, on-demand video, video games, and other media.

• Theatrical Music: All theatrical presentations involving live or recorded music require a grand rights licence, covering royalties and the rental of performing materials. This also applies to filming or broadcasting theatrical performances.

Fees and Payments

Licence fees are agreed upon before processing each order. Our hire fees consider various factors, including the duration of hire, the number of performances, the status of the hirer (professional or non-professional), the size of the audience, whether the content is digital and if so on what platforms, the cost of any ticketing and any applicable discounts (e.g., educational, ‘no performance’).

Applicable surcharges may include:

• Rush fee for orders placed 10 days or fewer before the required date
• Broadcast/Recording/Streaming fee
• Synchronisation fee
• Extension of hire period