Phonographic Performance Limited (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.

PPL has now removed the requirement for multiple licences. In a statement, the organisation said: "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."

This means that instructors will be able to obtain PPL licences direct from PPL or from one of a number of authorised suppliers - including FitPro, Pure Energy or ClickMix - and that 'one licence covers all'.

The previous, multi-license system had become cumbersome and resulted from an arrangement made in 1992, when just one company - FitPro - was selling premixed music to be used by fitness instructors. As time progressed and more companies entered the fitness music market, it became apparent that it was problematic for an instructor to use multiple services as they required a PPL licence from each.

The recent change in the law follows discussions with PPL licensees and fitness industry representatives.