Gyms and leisure centres across the United Kingdom are increasingly instructing class leaders to replace popular chart music with royalty-free alternatives, attributing the shift to escalating music licensing fees. Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL), which manages over 250 local authority leisure centres under the Better brand, is the latest major operator to implement this change.

GLL has directed instructors for classes such as aerobics, Pilates, and spinning to discontinue playing well-known hit songs. The social enterprise projects annual savings of approximately £1 million in licensing payments by transitioning to generic, royalty-free music. A GLL spokeswoman indicated that the company was notified late last year of a "significant" increase in its current music licence costs, described as "well beyond the rate of inflation." She added that while music plays a vital role in creating an engaging class atmosphere, these rising expenses impact resources available for wider community programs.

This move by GLL mirrors similar actions taken by other prominent leisure operators, including PureGym, the largest chain in the UK, alongside David Lloyd Clubs, Everyone Active, JD Gyms, and Bannatyne. GLL reported an 8 percent increase in its licence costs from Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL), which collects royalties for record labels and artists. Charges from PRS for Music (PRS), representing songwriters, rose by 4 percent for the operator. A combined music licence for fitness sessions reportedly starts at £333 per year or £2.22 per class, excluding VAT.

Music licensing bodies have reported substantial revenues recently. PRS for Music disbursed £1 billion for the first time in 2024, following a 43 percent increase in its revenues since 2019. PPL collected over £300 million in 2024, a 6 percent increase from 2023, marking its highest collection in its 90-year history. Gavin Larkins, Director of Commercial Development at PRS, stated that while he could not comment on individual cases, the royalty rate for fitness and dance sector tariffs has remained unchanged since its launch in 2018, though it is subject to inflationary adjustments.

To facilitate the transition, GLL is providing instructors with complimentary access to the PowerMusic app, which offers a library of royalty-free songs specifically designed for exercise. The operator indicated that following "engagement sessions" with over 500 instructors, it plans to broaden music genres and retain familiar tracks for certain classes.

However, the change has encountered some public dissent. An instructor at a GLL centre in Hackney, east London, launched a petition advocating for the reintroduction of popular music, gathering nearly 5,000 signatures. The petition asserts that music is an essential element of the fitness experience, serving to energize, motivate, and connect participants from diverse backgrounds. PPL was contacted for further comment regarding the situation.