PPL – Specially Featured Entertainment tariff

The Specially Featured Entertainment (SFE) tariff came into force in January 2023 and will be gradually phased in between 2023 and 2031 with transitional discounts applied over this period. Members can view further detail on the transition process in our downloadable guide below, which we have developed alongside the British Beer and Pub Association.

The new tariff replaces SFE tariff PPLPP001, which was in force from 1987 to 2022.

PPL is the copyright collection body representing record companies, who collect royalties from businesses using their music. There are a variety of different tariffs (charges) affecting the hospitality sector, including background music, music in hotel bedrooms, staff areas etc.

The SFE tariff covers primarily DJ and disco events in nightclubs, hotels, pubs, clubs and restaurants. If your business holds such events, you will have been paying PPL under the existing SFE tariff which will transfer to this new tariff from January 2023.

PPL has published details regarding the tariff on their website, alongside guidance. These can be found below and we recommend operators review these documents in full.

The fees for each SFE event under this tariff are based on:

• the number of persons attending that SFE event (in units of 25 persons)
• the duration of that SFE event.

The fees for each unit of 25 persons are based on an underlying rate per person per hour and are subject to the application of temporary discounts for events with attendances of 301 or more persons.

As this is a phased tariff over ten years, the key point to note is that there will be differences in the rate each year up until 2031. A table of the phased increases is included in Annex 1 of our downloadable guide. This guidance will focus on the first year (2023) and be kept updated as the tariff progresses.

This depends on when your current SFE licence runs to in 2023. For example, if your current SFE licence expires on 1 July 2023 – this will be the date the new ‘licence year’ begins under the new tariff.