Music licence???

[BIRD]

I work in a supermarket which is open 24 hours. Up until recently we have had a radio on in the store between the hours of 2200 till 0600. We have now been told that we aren't allowed it anymore because we haven't got a licence for music!!! Can anyone shed any light on this for me please and if there is anyway around it. Thanks in advance.

[novalis]

Can't shed any light on the music licence -- but you would be in breach of the law because of performers' rights legislation unless you are paying to broadcast songs.

[pauln90]

According to The performing rights society if music is played outside the home environment a licence is required.

See here for more info and faq

http://www.mcps-prs-alliance.co.uk/about_us/yo urquestionsanswered/Pages/WhohastohaveaPRSMusi cLicence.aspx

[Yorkie580]

My local Barber's were told that a new licence would cost them well over �100.00 - they bought a small flatscreen TV and got a TV package with music channels - it works out a hell of a lot cheaper to do this and pay the TV Licence than to pay the music licence!

[shopper]

Do you work for Tesco by any chance. I heard the same message in a Team 5.
Night shift workers usually listen to music, but because the store is open to customers 24 hours. Then they need to have a music licence.
Basically they are just too tight to pay for one.
No wonder staff moral is low.

[MUMPING2]

Yorkie, yir barber may still needs a PRS LIcence, his TV Licence allows him to receive the signal but doesn't gie him the right to broadcast the music in public.

[BIRD]

Thanks for all your replies.Yes I do work for tesco shopper and it has made the staff moral low!! I looked on the website that pauln90 gave and rang them. They said that Tescos have got a Corporate Licence ??? not sure what that is but the guy said it needs to be taken up with headoffice.

[loonytunes]

Apart from the PRS licence, there is no need for a "music licence". This was required under the old law before the 2003 Licensing Act was passed. There is now no licensing requirement where music is incidental to an activity which does not itself require a licence, eg shopping.