not really sure where to post this question....

lilpunkkitty

Does anybody know the law of having a music license etc? I have been told if a building is over 50 years old they don't need a music license ( for retail use), does anyone know if this is true or where I can find out- I have tried to google it but with no success:o

jobbingmusician

Can you be a bit more precise about what you mean?

If you mean a music licence for PERFORMANCE, I am sure your rule about over 50 years old is wrong. Lots of churches which are used for concerts have had a terrible time, with new and onerous legislation. On a quick look I found this which might be useful.

If you mean a music licence for broadcasting background music for a shop, you need a PPL licence - see http://www.ppluk.com/en/I-Play-Music/?gclid=CKHb05K2xbMCFefMtAodlxoAig

ILW

Or PRS if playing anything with copyriight content such as radio.
http://www.prsformusic.com/users/businessesandliveevents/musicforbusinesses/pages/doineedalicence.aspxybe

paddyrg

I think someone may have got confused about music over a certain age not needing PRS/PPL, but it's not a simple 50 yrs. Frankly, the easiest answer is to contact PRS/PPL and see what applies to you. They are quite approachable.

jobbingmusician

Ah yes, I can see that. However, the basic composer copyright has increased from 50 to 70 years, and is a very complex area of law!

That is almost the sum total of my knowledge, except for the following

- some composers came out of copyright for a short while, and then went back in again

- the horrid (Richard) Strauss family won't let you buy most of his works, so you have to hire them, at extortionate cost.

Now, wasn't that interesting? (Can I be on QI, Mr Fry, please? )

theoretica

Telling musicians they won't be paid if their music is played inside an old building would go down just about as well as telling anyone else their payrate goes down with the age of the building they are in...

browneyedbazzi

Depending on the exact nature of what you're doing, the music may also be regulated entertainment which requires a licence from your local authority. This wouldn't apply if the music is background or 'incidental' but it does apply to things like discos or other instances where people come along to a place to be entertained by the music....regardless of the age of the building!

Uncertain

jobbingmusician wrote: »

Ah yes, I can see that. However, the basic composer copyright has increased from 50 to 70 years, and is a very complex area of law!

Yes.

To make it even more confusing it is 70 years from the END of the year of the composer's death, not the actual date.

As far as I know the age of the building is totally irrelevant. I can only assume somebody has their wires crossed from when copyright lasted for fifty years.

paddyrg

...otherwise the Royal Albert Hall would do more business and the O2 less... ;-)