PRS "Performing Right Society"

[Thorin]

My father has been contacted by the above demanding that he buys a costly (in the region of a few thousand pounds) license for the "public performance" of music.

 

Now my dad runs a small garage and has Real Radio playing in the workshop for half a dozen staff. No public are allowed in the workshop but apparently he's been told that doesn't matter, he still requires one even if there wasn't the possibility of members of the public overhearing it.

 

Has anyone had any dealings with the above? From having a brief google it seems the company are genuine but of dubious reputation and for the most part would appear toothless. I'm tempted to tell him to tell them to get stuffed. I do however note that there appears to be an ongoing court case where PRS are suing Kwik-fit... perhaps he could tell them he is "considering his options and awaiting the results of the kwit-fit trial"?

[Gaz6002]

Never heard of that before. Could citizens advice be a good starting point?

[RedM]

If that were the case then surely nearly every shop in every high street would need a license.

[hogmaw]

PRS are a legit organisation and they do have a right to collect money from people or organisations that play music in public but there is no way they can ask for that much money for just a small garage, that is ridiculous. Fight it all the way, you will win.

[hogmaw]

If that were the case then surely nearly every shop in every high street would need a license.

 

Every shop does.

[JustGav]

PRS license cost is based on the number of employees that hear it..

 

Yup, they can do it.. Last time I looked into it, it was around £1100 for about 80 people (back in 2001)

[Thorin]

If that were the case then surely nearly every shop in every high street would need a license.

 

In looking up for information on this I did read that shops that sell music do not have to have a license to play the music that they sell, but any other shop should.

 

...I don't see why though, if you're playing the radio then surely the radio station pays Royalty fees? And in any case surely it's all advertising the recording artists and therefore likely to influence people to buy their music. Seems like a con to me.

[JustGav]

In looking up for information on this I did read that shops that sell music do not have to have a license to play the music that they sell, but any other shop should.

 

...I don't see why though, if you're playing the radio then surely the radio station pays Royalty fees? And in any case surely it's all advertising the recording artists and therefore likely to influence people to buy their music. Seems like a con to me.

 

Actually I'm not 100% sure how it works with radio because surely that can be received by anybody. In my case I was looking at a setting up a media server and legally playing mp3s.

[Jezz]

Every shop does.

 

Exactly correct. Every shop has and is 'supposed' to display a PRS sticker in the window. PRS is for the distribution of royalties to artists who's work is being played publicly. Any form of recorded music played in public (excluding radio) needs a PRS liscence.

[JustGav]

Exactly correct. Every shop has and is 'supposed' to display a PRS sticker in the window. PRS is for the distribution of royalties to artists who's work is being played publicly. Any form of recorded music played in public (excluding radio) needs a PRS liscence.

 

Got a spare sticker for sale?

[Charlotte]

My hairdresser was telling me about this last time I was in there. She was going to take matters into her own hands and tape herself playing the recorder but apparently that wouldn't have worked either!

[Darren-K]

I worked as a sound engineer for more than 10 years Thorin,and its legite,

they can have you for hefty amounts of money,

the only way round it is if all the staff just wear Ipods etc,

Someones grassed youre dad to the PRS mate.

[Sharpie]

Yeah, we used to have to pay ~$260 per year for a small site in Cambridge which, had music on hold, on the phone system.

 

http://www.mcps-prs-alliance.co.uk/playingbroadcastingonline/music_for_businesses/Pages/default.aspx

 

You can play copyright & Royalty FREE music for £0

http://www.akmmusic.co.uk/copyright-free-music.php

[Darren-K]

I hold the rights to every track on this site :

 

http://v7music.com

 

feel free to use or stream or to download and play all you want,they cant touch you,as i own all the rights.

 

however,unless youre dad is into drum & bass ,techno,trance and ambient it wont be much good

[ivan]

Exactly correct. Every shop has and is 'supposed' to display a PRS sticker in the window. PRS is for the distribution of royalties to artists who's work is being played publicly. Any form of recorded music played in public (excluding radio) needs a PRS liscence.

So could his Dad get away with just playing the radio instead?

[Darren-K]

Exactly correct. Every shop has and is 'supposed' to display a PRS sticker in the window. PRS is for the distribution of royalties to artists who's work is being played publicly. Any form of recorded music played in public (excluding radio) needs a PRS liscence.

 

Not 100% correct Jezz,

 

this is from the PRS site itself :

 

If you play music in your business or want to include it in your product you need clearance to do so from the owners of that music. PRS and MCPS represent the owners and can get you the clearances you need

If i own that music i can play it no problem,-

 

another quote :

 

What are your rights as a Copyright owner?

If you own the copyright you possess the sole authority to:

 

copy the music

issue, lend or rent copies to the public

perform, show or play the music in public

communicate the music to the public (i.e. broadcasting it via TV, radio, Internet etc.)

and a link to the page its on :

http://www.mcps-prs-alliance.co.uk/about_us/aboutcopyright/Pages/aboutmusiccopyright.aspx

 

[Al Massey]

if its just listening to the radiop tell em to go fcuk themelves

 

everyones tv liscence covers radio and that is the law, fight tem all the way

[Rob]

Is this based on past "offences" or can he just stop having a radio playing from now on and pay them nothing?