music PPL PRS license

redpaddy1965

Hi All

Could anyone advise on the following please.
I paid for a years license to PPL PRS to have music playing in my tearoom. I paid the fees prior to opening after our  Christmas closure and it would run from  January 2021 unfortunately like everyone else we were locked down for inside seating until May 2021. They have sent me a new invoice for this year at a reduced rate (which is fair )but i am in the process of selling my business and therefore do not want to pay a years fee for music. as i paid for a service they couldn't provide am i within my rights to ask for a refund? They wont let me have two months free play as such ( i hope to complete sale by end February) but are insisting if i want to play music i have to pay the fees?

pinkshoes

To be fair, it wasn't their fault you couldn't play music... so unless your business T&Cs said a refund can be sought then no refund due.

If they only offer 1 year contracts, then either purchase for 1 year on the basis it applies to the shop so the next owner won't have to pay it for a while, or decline to pay it and perhaps sing to your customers instead?

user1977

Nothing to do with consumer rights (as you ain't a consumer), but can't the licence be passed on to a purchaser?

pramsay13

Although I enjoy music playing while I'm working, if I'm going to a cafe it's usually to catch up with someone and have a chat so I don't particularly want music playing. I can't imagine that forgoing it for a few months will be an issue. 

Aylesbury_Duck

redpaddy1965 said:

Hi All

Could anyone advise on the following please.
I paid for a years license to PPL PRS to have music playing in my tearoom. I paid the fees prior to opening after our  Christmas closure and it would run from  January 2021 unfortunately like everyone else we were locked down for inside seating until May 2021. They have sent me a new invoice for this year at a reduced rate (which is fair )but i am in the process of selling my business and therefore do not want to pay a years fee for music. as i paid for a service they couldn't provide am i within my rights to ask for a refund? They wont let me have two months free play as such ( i hope to complete sale by end February) but are insisting if i want to play music i have to pay the fees?

Is that correct?  You paid for a licence to enable you to play music lawfully, which they provided.  They aren't supplying the music.  You wouldn't be entitled to a refund if your stereo broke down, either.

born_again

You could use it as a way to get more for the business.

But to be fair. Most people go to a cafe to talk to friends, not listen to music.

So perhaps not bother with renewing. Then keep a track on how many people mention the lack of music.

sheramber

Did  they actually withdraw the licence or was it that you just couldn't use it as you were closed?

redpaddy1965

user1977 said:

Nothing to do with consumer rights (as you ain't a consumer), but can't the licence be passed on to a purchaser?

thanks but the purchaser wants to do everything in their own time as they will be refurbing the premises before reopening

redpaddy1965

sheramber said:

Did  they actually withdraw the licence or was it that you just couldn't use it as you were closed?

No withdrawal , we were closed due to Covid but sods law i paid the fee just before the lockdown number 2 was brought in.  

Ergates

In that case it wasn't that they weren't able to provide the music, it was that you weren't able to use it.  If you had decided to break the rules and open (or just sit in there on your own, or taken the opportunity to deepclean/decorate) then you'd probably have been able to play the music.

Sandtree

redpaddy1965 said:

user1977 said:

Nothing to do with consumer rights (as you ain't a consumer), but can't the licence be passed on to a purchaser?

thanks but the purchaser wants to do everything in their own time as they will be refurbing the premises before reopening

Then save the money and don't play music or if music is a fundamental part of your proposition and the business lost as a result of lack of music would be greater than the fee then clearly pay the fee. 

Have you spoken to PPL PRS? A friend that did a pop up venture did get a permit that cost less than a years fee (though certainly not proportionally less)