PPL’s 2025 revenues prove why music licensing still matters for artists
PPL revenues hit £325.5m in 2025, showing steady growth powered by international performance.
A solid year for PPL
PPL has wrapped up 2025 with a strong performance, reporting total collections of £325.5 million. That marks a 4.8% year-on-year increase of £14.3 million, according to the press release from the UK music-licensing body.
Behind that figure, over 182,000 performers and recording rightsholders received payments in 2025, including around 16,000 who were paid for the first time.
What’s driving the growth?
While overall growth remained steady, the real standout story came from international collections.
Strong international performance
International revenue jumped by 16% YoY to £94.0 million, marking PPL’s highest-ever year for international recording rightsholder collections. The surge was driven by a mix of new performers signing up, improved revenue streams, and opportunities on a global level.
Public performance holds steady
PPL’s public performance income, generated from music played in venues like shops, gyms, bars, and offices etc., accounts for around 40% of PPL’s total collections revenue.
In 2025, this segment saw modest growth of 1%, reaching £122.9 million. This figure was held back by a “challenging economic backdrop”, including ongoing pub closures across the UK. With that being said, this drop may have been offset by shifting consumer trends, as fitness venue collections rose by 5.6%.
Broadcast and online licensing dip slightly
Broadcast and online licensing, covering TV, radio, and digital platforms, accounted for 315 of total revenue. This segment dipped ever so slightly, falling from £98.6 million in 2024 to £98.5 million in 2025.
Despite signing several broadcast deals with major UK TV providers, it couldn’t offset the fall caused by broader trends which saw more channels shutting down.
Why music licensing matters
Music licensing remains a key piece of the puzzle for artist income. It can often be overlooked by streaming, but licensing can provide a reliable source of income for those who get airplay. Whether your music is played in a café, broadcast on TV, or used overseas, these payments can quietly add up over time.
For artists with growing catalogues, or even just a few tracks gaining traction, making sure your music is properly registered and monetized is essential.
Don’t leave money on the table
If you’re not tapped into all available licensing opportunities, you could be missing out on valuable earnings.
That’s where RouteNote comes in. Alongside global distribution to services worldwide, RouteNote helps artists get their music onto YouTube’s Content ID system, ensuring you get paid whenever your tracks are used in videos across the platform.