music license

Cost of Music Licence Slashed for Small Business

March 6, 2009 News

> Workplaces with 4 or less employees will now pay just £44 a year for a license to play music after a consultation between the licensing authority the PRS for music and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). Last summer the FSB accused the PRS of a "money-making exercise" claiming that the licensing regime was both complicated and costly. But now music can now be played in workplaces with four or fewer staff with a license that costs less than £1 a week. These workplaces wishing to obtain a music licence can now pay a reduced flat rate of £44 per annum + VAT – whereas before, it would have cost them around £84. The change, which is a reduction of almost 50%, was brought in by PRS for Music after consultation with the FSB and its wider membership.... »

Employers told to pay up for Music

July 1, 2008 News

Listening to music at work may soon become a thing of the past… It is estimated that more than half a million businesses across the UK are playing music illegally. But many of them don’t even know it. By law, whenever music is played publicly (that’s considered to be anywhere outside the home) a license is needed. It doesn’t matter whether it’s played on a radio, cd or mp3, or who’s listening. In the case of businesses, whether staff or customers can hear it, you still need a license. The Performing Right Society (PRS) takes the money and pays it to the artist. That’s because under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 if you use copyright music in public, you need to have permission from every writer or composer. Without a license you could ... »