music licence

[miliitant]

Re: music licence

[Forendy]

Hi

I am having problems with PRS/PPL with multiple calls a day with quite aggressive operators on the line, I have 5 self catering cottages that have tv’s and radios in but we do not play any background music as it is up to the guests to listen to what they want in what is basically their hope for the length of their stay. Do I require a license for this as PRS/PPL say yes but cannot provide me with anything written down.

thanks

kev

[ploddertom]

I would say no as assume each unit is self contained and you will have a TV Licence of some description anyway. I used to get calls from them whereby silence on answer as they were listening for any music. Got Caller ID for the phone and put a Call Blocker on the line and not heard anything now for more than 5 years. We don't listen to music anyway and been under investigation for more years than I care to mention from TV Licensing who I keep hoping will visit as I'll throw them out unless they come with a Warrant.

[enaid]

The link on this link will explain if a license is needed or not

https://www.gov.uk/licence-to-play-l...recorded-music

[ParkStreet]

We are a small retail shop and we had an invoice come in from PRS/PPL back in December 2018 for our new licence which was due to start on 1st January 2019. They had invoiced us for an area at least twice the size of what we actually have. I tried numerous times to contact them on the telephone to query the invoice but could never get an answer, some times waiting up to thirty minutes before I gave up. Eventually, on 3rd January, I decided tot ry and contact them via their website (I much prefer to talk to somebody on the phone, though) to inform them that we no longer have a radio in the shop and that we would not be paying the invoice. I received no reply. I tried again a few times over the next few days and still got no reply. I did eventually hear back from them telling me that, because I hadn't contacted them within 14 days of receiveing the invoice, the amount and invoice stood. I have refused to pay it. They passed the invoice on to a debt collecting agency, Oriel Solutions, who kept harrasing me for payment until this week, when I received a letter from them saying the account with Oriel has been closed and returned to PPLPRS. I have now received a letter from another Debt Collecting agency asking for payment and threatening me now with leagal action. We have not played any music in the shop since December last year, have no radio, no TV and a computer with no speakers yet they still want paying. Where do I go from here?

[Amethyst]

Did you get an email confirmation of the contact form sent via the website or any emails you sent ?
If not does your telephone bill show calls made to them between receiving the invoice in December and them finally coming back to you?

[ParkStreet]

We got an automated response on 3rd January, nothing more than that. I haven't actually checked the phone bill, I can't remember if it just rang and rang or if I was left on hold. I'll have to check that out.

[Amethyst]

What date was the invoice?

And are there specific terms in the agreement regarding cancelling within 14 days of the date of the invoice ?

Their website isn't very informative is it.

How can I cancel my licence/close my account?

• If you would like to cancel your music licence and close your account, please call us on 0800 0720 808 8am–6pm, Monday–Friday.

For most customers (unless for example it is for a one-off event), TheMusicLicence renews automatically. We will let you know in advance what royalties are due for the next licence period. It is important that you let us know about any changes in your music usage, as this may affect how much you need to pay. Please refer to TheMusicLicence terms and conditions for more information.

ah HA - they hide it well....

https://pplprs.co.uk/wp-content/uplo...ns-02.2018.pdf

attached too.

So they seem to be relying on Clause 9.5 ?

2019-10-10 17_39_41-TheMusicLicence Terms Oct 2019 File.pdf - Adobe Acrobat Pro DC.png

2019-10-10 17_40_20-TheMusicLicence Terms Oct 2019 File.pdf - Adobe Acrobat Pro DC.png

which is actually, as it automatically renews, 14 days from the anniversary of the start date rather than 14 days from the invoice date ( I'd expect those to be the same date tbh but check )

[Amethyst]

Also further down is the term that 'notices' need to be in writing (email)

2019-10-10 17_52_55-Microsoft Edge.png

[ParkStreet]

"We will let you know in advance what royalties are due for the next licence period"

This is interesting. Our invoice was dated 10th December yet they told me on the 'phone the licence expired in mid-November, hardly notice in advance then was it?

[Amethyst]

Can you see when you got your licence the year before ?

[ParkStreet]

I will have to go back through my records

[MinnieMouse]

Thought I'd chip in as I had similar issue only on larger scale. mymusicsolutions.com helped me out. PPL PRS ex employees who are there for the benefit of me the licensee, rather than the copyright holder. Nice to have them on my side fighting these annoying battles for me