Not only do you have to pay the PRS but also another organisation called
PPL! It's outrageous. We are a charity too and have decided that with a
combined fee to both organisations of £600 pa we have banned radios and
music everywhere (even our poor kiosk attendant, who works in a hut by
himself, listening to the golf!!) Google the government response to a petition
from folk such as us complaining and you will see what we are up against!
I have a theory that we are paying for Paul McCartney's divorce.......
Best wishes and let me know if YOU have any luck
Helen
Helen Currie
Education and Events Manager
Buccleuch Heritage Trust
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There are sources of music that you can buy which come with a licence for
public performance / using for cd production etc, and so do not need a
payment to PRS.
I assume some googling will turn up a source - I have seen them advertised at
education-focussed IT exhibitions.
David
David Dawson
Director, WANHS
Wiltshire Heritage Museum
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I looked into this same issue during a 1940s exhibition. I was then employed
by a local authority. What I found then (over 10 years ago) was that the
Museum could get listed under the council venues that performed live music or
played background music (mostly concert halls). The museum was to keep a
list of what was played and when. However, before we went down this line we
contacted the company who had produced the tapes we wanted to play and
they provided a letter giving us permission to play it in the gallery without
payment - our agreement was that we would buy some copies for sale in the
shop and place a note next to the tape player thanking them.
Nigel Sadler
Sands of Time Consultancy
http://www.sandsoftimeconsultancy.com
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I encountered this problem when I was Education Officer at Haslemere
Museum. A cold call asked the office staff if the museum ever used music -
unfortunately the office staff didn't think before answering 'Yes we have
carols (CDs given away free in newspapers) in Santa's Parlour'. So for the
sake of a few days each year when music was sometimes used within that
room rather than in the general public spaces the museum ended up having to
spend money on not only PRS but also Public Performance License.
The charity shop issue has been much discussed in our house as it concerned
the Mind shops & my husband is their MD. The company were well aware they
needed licenses to play music in the shops but these were cases where
volunteers had put a radio on in the stockroom where they were sorting
donations etc. Sadly the news reports were wrong and no special agreement
has been made between the licensing body & charity shops.
It'll be interesting to see if anyone takes this issue forward on behalf of
museums. I'd also be interested to hear if you've had other responses.
Maggie Monteath
Museum Education Consultant
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