Colchester: The cost of playing music to customers

9:06am Tuesday 24th June 2008

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COLCHESTER bosses have joined calls to exempt small businesses from paying a licence fee to play music at work.

Under the Design, Copyright and Patent Act 1988, anyone broadcasting music for anything other than personal use must pay a fee.

But a national row erupted after the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) said members had raised concerns over the tactics used by the Performing Rights Society (PRS) to collect fees, even if only a handful of staff or customers would hear the music being played.

In one example, the FSB said a member claimed the PRS telephoned him eight times in one day and were "aggressive". Many businesses did not even know they needed a licence, it said.

Colchester businesswoman Maggie Weaver received a letter in November saying it was illegal for her to play music in her cafe without a licence. The PRS, which represents songwriters and performers, then backdated her charges to when she first opened the cafe six months earlier.

Ms Weaver, who owns The Art Cafe in Trinity Street, had not known she needed a licence and now pays between £350 and £400 a year.

"I don't know how they (the PRS) found out about it. The fee makes everything a little bit more difficult.

"My husband is a musician so I have thought about recording his music and playing that instead. Small businesses should pay a much lower rate, or nothing at all. It's appalling."

Benn Holbrook-Morris, manager at Hype hair salon in North Hill, knew the shop would need a licence and pays £110 a year for the privilege.

"I don't think it's at all fair. I already pay my television and radio licence and buy CDs so I would have thought I could do what I want with my music. The fee is quite steep."

Mr Holbrook-Morris said his fee was calculated on it being background music, how long it would be playing, the number of chairs in the shop, as well as other criteria. "It's pathetic," he added.