PPL music License

sizzler78

Hi, I run a small cafe and have recently received a bill from the PPL for playing music in my kitchen.

I am really loathed to pay this as i have never heard of them before and they have never contacted me prior to sending this invoice.

I was just wondering if anyone knows whether there are rules against them doing this? If the TV licensing people know you don't have a license they always send a warning letter and give you a weeks grace before fining you don't they?

Any legal hints/tips would be gratefully received
Caroline

crazyguy

you have to pay or be fined now to have a radio playing in the work place

vax2002

It only applies to recorded music played in public, Ignore them, but make sure the radio can not be heard in the cafe

sizzler78

Hi, thanks for replying. I know i have to have a license, i had a prs license until i realised i actually have 2 licenses! As soon as i realised i cancelled the prs one and took radio home - its not worth paying 300 quid a year just to listen to a few tunes at work!

My complaint with them is that they haven't sent me any correspondence, i've never seen an advert, never been told i needed the 2nd license then all of a sudden i get a bill and a fine for not having the license! how can i buy a license i didn't even know existed - i already had 1 i didn't know i needed 2. I know ignorance isn't an excuse but surely there's rules about them having to inform people before they send bills out to give us a chance to decide whether we want to play music and get license or not play music at all?

texranger

PPL is the music licensing company which, on behalf of 45,000 performers and 5,750 record companies, licenses the use of recorded music in the UK.

This enables TV and radio stations, online streaming services and hundreds of thousands of shops, pubs and others to use recorded music in their business.

so even playing in your kitchen as long as you play music in your workplace you need a PPL licence

wealdroam

Click here for an answer to the question...
I have a PRS for Music licence, why do I need a PPL one?

Spartacus_Mills

sizzler78 wrote: »

Hi, I run a small cafe and have recently received a bill from the PPL for playing music in my kitchen.

I am really loathed to pay this as i have never heard of them before and they have never contacted me prior to sending this invoice.

I was just wondering if anyone knows whether there are rules against them doing this? If the TV licensing people know you don't have a license they always send a warning letter and give you a weeks grace before fining you don't they?

Any legal hints/tips would be gratefully received
Caroline

We get them at my place.

The requests go straight in the bin.

sizzler78

I know i need the license if i'm playing music (which i'm not now) but my question is are there any rules against them sending the bill and fine without any sort of prior correspondence??!

btw wealdroam, you need both licenses - prs is for performers and ppl is for record companies or composers. So you've never heard of the ppl either then?

arcon5

sizzler78 wrote: »

I know i need the license if i'm playing music (which i'm not now) but my question is are there any rules against them sending the bill and fine without any sort of prior correspondence??!

btw wealdroam, you need both licenses - prs is for performers and ppl is for record companies or composers. So you've never heard of the ppl either then?

There isn't any. You've already asnwered your own quesion, ignorance is not an excuse!

But, if you telephone them they will likely waiver the fine if you pay the license.

hcb42

I agree, ignorance is no excuse unfortunately!

wealdroam

They have no authority to impose a fine.
Only some statutory bodies (and Phonographic Performance Limited are not one of those), are allowed to levy fines.

Do they actually mention the word fine?

I suspect that all they have done is send you an invoice.

Could it be that they have visited your place and witnessed music playing etc and so issued the invoice?

Whether you choose to ignore the invoice or not is up to you.