Music Publishers Association

Licence Information

PMLL provides the Schools Printed Music Licence (SPML) for all schools in the UK.  The licence enables teachers to copy any printed music publication they own subject to certain restrictions:

• copies must be made by teachers/school staff
• schools must own an original
• the number of copies made must be equal to or less than the number of pupils in the class
• no copies can be used for private individual or vocal teaching
• only 10% of the items in albums or large vocal scores may be copied
• copies must be for school purposes only (not for private use or use in other activities)

From May 2019 the SPML was amended to include ‘digital to print’.  This means that teachers can now purchase a pdf copy of sheet music (from a legitimate source) and use this under the terms of the SPML.

There is an exclusion list of works that cannot be copied under the SPML.  The licence is currently administered in schools by The Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA).  From 1 April 2021 the CLA will no longer act as agent for PMLL.  Most schools will continue to be covered by central deals through the DfE (England), Scottish Government, and Education Authority in Northern Ireland.  Some institutions are licensed on an individual basis or via a Local Authority.  From 1 April 2021 an invoice for the SPML will be provided by CEFM (Centre for Education and Finance Management) for those relevant schools.