Following recent discussions with PPL licensees, fitness industry representatives and music product customers PPL has changed the way that it licences aerobics and fitness instructors.

Previously, when purchasing a premixed music product from a licensed supplier of fitness music, it was a requirement for an instructor to also obtain a PPL licence from that supplier.

This arrangement started in 1992 when just one company (FitPro) began selling premixed music for use by fitness instructors. However, as time progressed and more companies offered a service, it became apparent that it was problematic for an instructor to use multiple services as they required a PPL licence from each.

PPL has now removed the requirement for multiple licences in accordance with discussions with the fitness industry. All discussions were positive in nature and it became clear that the shared aim amongst all parties was to find the right balance between allowing instructors greater freedom when purchasing their music and PPL licences, whilst still maintaining a level of regulation.

In March 2009, PPL issued a press release and updated its website to announce that: "On expiry of an instructors' existing licences you will only require one public performance licence to cover you to perform CDs and tapes legitimately purchased from any authorised PPL supplier. You can still purchase your PPL licence from your usual supplier or directly from PPL, but now you can use it to perform classes using any legal product."

What does that mean for clubs and instructors? That PPL licences can be purchased direct from PPL or from one of our authorised suppliers FitPro, Pure Energy or ClickMix, and that 'one licence covers all'.

It is still an important legal requirement, however, that when an instructor purchases music from a supplier, and selects the option not to purchase a PPL licence from that supplier, that they hold a current licence. All PPL licensees are required to pass details of that instructor to PPL, assuming they don't hold a valid licence with that supplier, in order that PPL can verify that the instructor is licensed.

For additional information please contact PPL's licensing team on 020 7534 1040 or [email protected]