What music licence do I need?

[Big J]

I run a hair salon with my wife, we play music CDS.

We have our PRS licence.

Now I have a bill for 217.20 plus VAT for a PPL licence.

Do I need to pay this? Do I need it? Its seems really expensive.

Thanks,

Big J.

 

[noidea]

They are cracking down on this because they can no longer shift the CD's... looking to increase alternative revenue streams

 

[Big J]

What I really need to know is if I legally need both.

 

[noidea]

http://www.mcps-prs-alliance.co.uk/...fhairdresserscouldbebreakingcopyrightlaw.aspx

Hope this helps.

 

[Big J]

http://www.mcps-prs-alliance.co.uk/...fhairdresserscouldbebreakingcopyrightlaw.aspx

Hope this helps.

Thanks for that, but I already have one of them, do you know what a PPL licence is?

 

[Mattonella Tile Studio]

You need PRS and PPL licence. One covers the copywrite of the writer of the music. The other covers the copywrite of the performers of the work. Not always the same person hence the need for 2 licences.

Ain't it great.

 

[Big J]

You need PRS and PPL licence. One covers the copywrite of the writer of the music. The other covers the copywrite of the performers of the work. Not always the same person hence the need for 2 licences.

Ain't it great.

Thanks for that but no, it ain't great.

 

[vvaannmmaann]

Forget the music of other's...............

Sing to your punters!

 

prs are a bloody pest the phone every week and i give the same response of i dont have a radio or play cds and i dont ,so last time the called and did the this call may be used for bla bla bla I said sorry I have to stop you if you are using my call for staff training ext I will charge a £2500 consultancy fee do you agree to my terms ,the line went very quiet and then said that they can not agree so, said goodby and have not had a peep out of then since

 

[noidea]

prs are a bloody pest the phone every week and i give the same response of i dont have a radio or play cds and i dont ,so last time the called and did the this call may be used for bla bla bla I said sorry I have to stop you if you are using my call for staff training ext I will charge a £2500 consultancy fee do you agree to my terms ,the line went very quiet and then said that they can not agree so, said goodby and have not had a peep out of then since

Good for you. I would have invoiced them!

 

[Chippie]

Can't understand why you would need a Private Pilots License to cut hair!

Seriously though, surely they earn royalties from your original purchase of the CD? It annoys me that you have to keep paying over and over for the same thing. I'd stop playing music before I'd pay them a penny. I can see why that would be difficult in your line of work but in mine i'd give them short shrift.

 

[noidea]

Can't understand why you would need a Private Pilots License to cut hair!

Seriously though, surely they earn royalties from your original purchase of the CD? It annoys me that you have to keep paying over and over for the same thing. I'd stop playing music before I'd pay them a penny. I can see why that would be difficult in your line of work but in mine i'd give them short shrift.

I hear most writers or whatever get under £5000 a year in royalties... not really worth being a member

What annoys me is you are not a club - you don't use the music to make money... in effect you are PROMOTING their music for them... and they want you to pay for the privilege!

 

[Chippie]

I hear most writers or whatever get under £5000 a year in royalties... not really worth being a member

What annoys me is you are not a club - you don't use the music to make money... in effect you are PROMOTING their music for them... and they want you to pay for the privilege!

Hear hear! Bloody primadonnas!

 

[Mattonella Tile Studio]

Today I've got Vivaldi and Chopin playing. I wonder how much in royalties they are getting as writers.

 

[Big J]

Will i get in trouble if I dont pay? Do I legally need these licences?

 

[davidakerr]

Whether we like it or not they (PRS and PPL) have the law on their side. The FSB are in discussions with these organisations in an effort to change some areas of the law that would exempt small businesses with under 5 employees having to pay for a licence, but its a long slog, meanwhile you have a choice don't pay and face legal prosecution; don't play music or pay the fee.

 

[noidea]

Whether we like it or not they (PRS and PPL) have the law on their side. The FSB are in discussions with these organisations in an effort to change some areas of the law that would exempt small businesses with under 5 employees having to pay for a licence, but its a long slog, meanwhile you have a choice don't pay and face legal prosecution; don't play music or pay the fee.

Yeah I can't see that law coming in....

 

[davidakerr]

You may be interested to know the USA, Canada and Australia have exemption laws for small businesses in relation to Music Licence requirements. If the FSB can persuade these organisations and the Government to see the harm these ridiculus laws are impacting on small businesses then so much the better. You know the more you look at it the worse it becomes........................just think if you whistle or hum the latest Chart Hit whilst standing in a public place would the PRS insist you have a licence, after all that's what this law is about.....................playing or listening to music that can be heard by the public.

 

[noidea]

You may be interested to know the USA, Canada and Australia have exemption laws for small businesses in relation to Music Licence requirements. If the FSB can persuade these organisations and the Government to see the harm these ridiculus laws are impacting on small businesses then so much the better. You know the more you look at it the worse it becomes........................just think if you whistle or hum the latest Chart Hit whilst standing in a public place would the PRS insist you have a licence, after all that's what this law is about.....................playing or listening to music that can be heard by the public.

Well over here taxing people to express themselves via music is a benefit to the economy. No if, no buts, I can't see them adding an exemption. Maybe for businesses with an owner-employee who plays the radio too loud in his/her van with the windows down...

Just to add, public in response to customers doesn't stop there, your employees also happen to fall under this stupid legislation! So even if you worked several miles away from any "outsiders" you still liable for a license

 

[davidakerr]

posted by noidea

well over here taxing people to express themselves via music is a benefit to the economy

Are you suggesting its the government who receives the proceeds of the Licence fee imposed by the PRS and PPL?

 

[noidea]

posted by noidea

well over here taxing people to express themselves via music is a benefit to the economy

Are you suggesting its the government who receives the proceeds of the Licence fee imposed by the PRS and PPL?

Well they do make a % from it via taxation...

No my point is... a way of getting extra money out there which seems to benefit an industry sounds a great idea (from the government point of view)...

 

[reggiemental]

Hi Big J,

This issue was discussed at length here a few months back: http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=51555

 

[Chippie]

Just had a letter this very morning from the PRS "sales office". They want me to call them on an 0870 number to tell them if I play music! Bloody cheek! Can you imagine me writing to prospects asking them to do that? I don't think I'd get much of a response! Anyway it's in the bin and I shall deny all knowledge if they contact me, I'm certainly not going to make it easy for the parasites.

If they want to know if we play music they'll have to call and see us. Is there music on talk sport? I think if they ever try to enforce it we'll just put that on if there's no music on it.

 

[noidea]

Just had a letter this very morning from the PRS "sales office". They want me to call them on an 0870 number to tell them if I play music! Bloody cheek! Can you imagine me writing to prospects asking them to do that? I don't think I'd get much of a response! Anyway it's in the bin and I shall deny all knowledge if they contact me, I'm certainly not going to make it easy for the parasites.

If they want to know if we play music they'll have to call and see us. Is there music on talk sport? I think if they ever try to enforce it we'll just put that on if there's no music on it.

Well in order to enforce the law they would need to prove that your business did "broadcast" the music (relatively quietly and just in one room)...

That is why they have a "sales office", I bet they bully a lot of businesses in buying a license when they don't need one. For example, in case one of their employees came in to work with their mp3 player on too loud so others can hear it...

 

[Chippie]

I bet they bully a lot of businesses in buying a license when they don't need one.

Well they'll get no response from me unless they send me a registered letter or turn up at my door in person after having called to make an appointment. We don't accept cold sales calls.

 

[reggiemental]

Royalty-free music seems to be the way forward: http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&=&q=royalty+free+music+uk&btnG=Google+Search

 

[noidea]

Royalty-free music seems to be the way forward: http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&=&q=royalty+free+music+uk&btnG=Google+Search

Seems to be a step back by the majority of the music on there...

 

[reggiemental]

Pay the licence fee then . . .

 

[noidea]

Pay the licence fee then . . .

the fee actually works out cheaper then buying royalty free music?