Rich Fiscus
3 Feb 2009 1:28
The UK's Performance Rights Society (PRS) is tasked with the responsibility of collecting royalties whenever music is performed for the public. It's a job they seem to do with the fervor or a recent religious convert. The good news is if you're a Lancashire police officer they're no longer coming after you for entertaining prisoners. The bad news is if you play the radio for animals you may be next on their list because it's possible a human might overhear.
It seems that the PRS has fallen on hard times with the poor economy and they're targetting more and more small businesses. Proprieters of a dog shelter were told they should pay for a license just in case a human employee might listen to the music being played for the animals.
Think you're safe because you're running a charity? Well the PRS is no charity. Margaret Hatton who helps run Dam House, which provides community services and facilities to residents of Astley, was told that they would need a license for local schoolgirls to come and sing carols once a year.
A statement from the PRS indicated that they believe their members deserve royalties based on their free will choice to work in a profession that doesn't offer a living wage. "Over 90% of our members earn less than £5,000 per annum from their work and depend on royalty payments to help them earn while they continue to create," it said.