Performing Rights Society

[Annejps]

In a small hotel, if I rented a television to a guest would I still be liable to pay the PRS fee? If not, what legal requirements would I have to satisfy to provide a rental service?

[cassa333]

Wouldn't you need a tv licience?

[Ethel]

Telephone them free

0800 068 4828

[Annejps]

I do have a television licence which covers television programme transmissions in all my bedrooms, the PRS licence costs over �100 and is payable for my guests to listen to music played during adverts. Can't get out of it by using a video/DVD recorder because whatever you watch could play music too.

[Ethel]

No, it is like paying twice, and paying for adverts adds insult to injury.

Glad you're sorted though - the PRS is really hammering down on every one at the moment

[cassa333]

Let me get this right...

You pay tv licience and extra so they can listen to the music in the adverts?

[Panic Button]

They have got to be joking. They want money for music played on adverts on the TV?

I would tell them to shove it. Surely they would be laughed out of court.

[cassa333]

My thoughts too.

I don't need a prs to watch the adverts on my tv at home.

[funnygirl]

That's right you don't need a license for the tv from PRS

But if in your small hotel, say in the foyer you play music to welcome the guests, then you have to pay PRS a license fee. This is depending on the size of your hotel.

[cassa333]

But he was talking about the music from adverts not music within the hotel.

[terambulan]

Tell him to put that in writing before you pay......then don't pay! You're being conned! Would love to see PRS in Court as know several musicians who get nowt from PRS!

[rinkytink]

It is my understanding that a PRS licence is required for all music played in public. This includes music played by any means, including live performance, CD, radio, TV, on telephone systems, internet, plus many more.

The operative word here is public....surely a guest bedroom is a temporary place of residence and hence not a public place. That is how it is defined in law as part of the smoking ban regulations - surely the same thing would apply here ??