playing music in shop license?

[watteee]

does anyone know if i need to buy a license to play music in my shop,i keep getting letters from the performing rights society saying i do.I only play a radio in my shop to entertain me not my customers just to make the day go quicker,surely this is unfair,even if i play cd`s that i have bought and payed for i shouldnt need to pay again,when i buy them im paying my cut to the artist at that point,why should i pay again,is there any loopholes as i feel this is just obscene and greed and not to mention stupid,i understand the artists point of view herebut ive payed for the music when i bought it.

[kempie]

If you play the music where the public can hear it (i.e. your customers) then licences are required.

You haven't "paid for the music when you bought it" - you have paid for the right to listen to it for your personal pleasure, not broadcast it to others. If you want the right to play it for an extended audience then you have to pay for that also.

http://www.mcps-prs-alliance.co.uk/playingbroa dcastingonline/music_for_businesses/Pages/defa ult.aspx

[watteee]

a load of rubbish if you ask me,as if us small businesses have not getting raped enough for money at every turn,i know folk will say,well its the law so you must pay,that doesnt mean its right,it looks likei will have to pay but i tell this,instead of just having a wee bit of background music for my pleasure i will be making sure my customers can hear it and it will be for their pleasure now as well as mine.a new hi fi is on the cards for the shop instead of a wee radio thats quit and fuzzy,and what if i just listen to talk radio that has no music?

[Ethel]

If you listen to any radio broadcast, you still need the licence.

I won't go in any shop or business premises that is playing music if I can help it - it drives me batty.

[funnygirl]

Yes, I am afraid you do!!

This is my line of business and we also have inspectors who snoop around.

We get paid �50 if we can find a business operating without a license, so tell me where you are Wattee and maybe we can split the proceeds!!! Lol.

[watteee]

well whoopee doo to you funny girl,so all the proceeds dont go to the artists as stated in the letters i get,i will tell you who i am and you can sort me out with a blind eye and i wont let your bosses know what you proposed,lol

[claireclaire]

What I can't seem to get out of them (the answer to my emailed questions was to send yet another letter telling me my employer has to get a licence) is whether whether I can listen at work using the ipod speakers or just the earphones, or if I have to turn off my ipod when I get to the office, even though I am the sole employee (for just 5 hours a week) and there's no-one else in the office - indeed there is no room for anyone else in the office. I am assuming it is now illegal for me to play music off the computer using the computer speakers.
Maybe playing music on portable music players is illegal anywhere outside the home if there's anyone else around? Bearing in mind the street may well be someone's workplace.
Anyone know?

[watteee]

just ignore the letters for as long as you can,thats what i say,i was getting weekly letters,about 5 of them,ignored them,letters stopped about 2 month ago

[claireclaire]

If you play the music where the public can hear it (i.e. your customers) then licences are required.
Kempie said:
You haven't "paid for the music when you bought it" - you have paid for the right to listen to it for your personal pleasure, not broadcast it to others. If you want the right to play it for an extended audience then you have to pay for that also.

So, does this mean I can listen to my Ipod using the speakers, when I'm on my own in the office?? Or only using the earphones? Or not at all? (What if I sing?)

[watteee]

just play your music and to hell with the do-gooders,this world has gone mad.

[claireclaire]

Don't know that do-gooders is the right description. Shouldn't that be jobsworths?

[watteee]

call them whatever you want,someone posted an answer on here saying they get �50 for catching someone,i was told the money went to the artists,all the money well that must be apart from the �50 they get,so that said it for me,there getting nothing!i can gaurantee that,not a penny.

[8767868778]

if it is true i suspect if you use copywright free music they cant touch you i was a film student and new you have to pay royalitys for normal music for other music where you can buy the rights for very little then they cant touch you....

[Davy_NI]

They've been pestering my shop for ages. We don't listen to the radio whilst open but we have a TV (with licence) but they're now coming after us saying that theme tunes and jingles are music played in public therefore we require a licence.

[davidlm136]

I was playing music when an inspector from ppl visited and i got an invoice in the post
I immediately stopped playing music and have never played music again
Would i be right in saying that as the licence covers a year of playing music from the date of the invoice and i have not played any music since this date, can they still make me pay?
they are threatening me with court
but i am happy to not play music so i do not want to pay for something that i will not use.

[a1_dude1983rocks]

RE: I was playing music when an inspector from ppl visited and i got an invoice in the post
I immediately stopped playing music and have never played music again
Would i be right in saying that as the licence covers a year of playing music from the date of the invoice and i have not played any music since this date, can they still make me pay?
they are threatening me with court
but i am happy to not play music so i do not want to pay for something that i will not use.

David one days usage is the same as a year where infringement is concerned. the only fees taken out are running costs which as you will undrstand i need to feed my children and dont do it for free, but these companies are not for profit - once running costs are taken out the rest is for the performers, and court action will happen where non compliance is found to be the way. be proactive and maybe the costs will come down. otherwise there will be surcharges from PPL

[a1_dude1983rocks]

PPL and PRS do not retain a profit (running costs are obviously taken out as we do not sdo this for free - we have children to feed ). legal action also is the next step for non compliance ignoring it will lead to hefty court fees believe me i work for PPL be proactive and the fees may be reduced, do nothing and be prepared for huge fees. check this if you do not believe
http://www.echo-news....g_to_pay_for_licence/ or http://www.thisissome...9-detail/article.html

dont be a chump be proactive. music does make business's a better place to shop and work

[amadiro]

What about when your customers play music what's the requirement then.
Say for example in an interent cafe where the business dosen't play music but the customer goes on Youtube

[sparter]

Contact Sibee Music
They will sell you some cds and you get your licence cost us 49.00 for the year. When your licence is up just renew or buy some more cds.

[sparter]

Contact Sibee music Licenses you have to buy 4 cds and you get your licence free cost us £49.00 for the year, but you can only play those cds having said that the do have a large selection .