Amateur Choir Licence – The Benefits to Choirs and Composers
Music is at the heart of many things that we do, we all know that it benefits us in many different ways and is extremely good for our mental health. It brings people together and brings joy to many. For choirs, it is essential as without the music there would be nothing to rehearse, sing or perform.
Many choirs purchase all the music they need but there are times when it is easier or necessary to make copies of the music. Sheet music is protected by copyright and it has always been illegal to reproduce this without direct permission from the publisher. There has always been a way to get permission to make copies, choirs can simply email the publisher and request permission to copy, which usually comes with a small fee. For some choirs, this is still an ideal solution. But for others that may need to photocopy more often, the administration of finding a publisher email and waiting for a response that may take time isn’t always practical.
Photocopying without a licence or permission deprives people of being able to earn a living. It leaves the people who created the music- composers, arrangers, and publishers- unpaid and unacknowledged for their work. With no way to track illegal copies or earn money, creators are not getting paid and are not able protect their intellectual property.
That’s why the PMLL (Printed Music Licensing Limited) Amateur Choir Licence was created.
The Amateur Choir Licence was created in collaboration with UK music publishers to offer a practical, simple and legal solution. It allows choirs to copy a huge variety of sheet music, make minor arrangements and ensures that those who hold the rights to the music are fairly compensated for their work being copied.
The licence covers thousands of works by UK and international composers and provides the flexibility choirs need to be able to legally copy music. Whether you’re creating lyric sheets or preparing part copies for a concert, the Amateur Choir Licence offers choirs a simple and affordable way to do so legally.
Most importantly, it helps sustain the music ecosystem by returning value to the creators at the heart of it all. Choirs thrive on great repertoire—and great repertoire can only be written if composers are supported in their careers.
If your choir regularly copies music—even just to make rehearsals run more smoothly—it’s worth checking whether you need a PMLL licence. It’s not just about compliance. It’s about recognising the work behind the music and ensuring that the songs we love to sing today are still being written tomorrow.
