Helicopter
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 15; Flight Crew Total 12500; Flight Crew Type 25
Confusion; Workload; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Landing Without Clearance
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Staffing
After landing when I requested that I be able to keep the same squawk for convenience as I was dropping two people off and continuing on VFR; the Tower Controller ask if I heard him calling us. I said no; due to Approach Controller keeping us on their frequency. As we are a helicopter and we are given clearances like 'landing at the ramp is at own risk' it can be confusing as to a clearance to land. I thought I was given a clearance to land. I'm not sure if it is due to COVID and staffing issues but it seems like I hear more ATC frequencies managed by one person; so this could have led to confusion during frequency changes.
Helicopter pilot reported a communication issue with ATC resulted in a landing without a clearance.  Pilot stated the Tower Controller was working multiple frequencies; which may have contributed to the event.