PRS licence to play music at work

Re: PRS licence to play music at work

bob lehner — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 19:36:05 GMT

[quote user="plantagenet"] I no longer have to listen to bloody radio 1,2[/quote]

Yes - when there are different age groups involved it is difficult to agree on what to listen to.

Most youngsters under the age of 25 seem quite incapable of functioning without background noise . I have enjoyed many battles over the years with nurses who insist on Radio 1/Radio Essex (aaagh) or whatever. As soon as they go on their tea break I either turn it off or re-tune to Radio 2 /Classic FM - then wait to see how long before they notice - usually about 30 seconds. Invevitably they win.

Definitely think music in the waiting room is not appropriate - as someone says if you are waiting to have your pet pts you probably don't want cheery stuff playing.

Re: PRS licence to play music at work

plantagenet — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:49:29 GMT

One of the very few advantages about owning my own practice is that I no longer have to listen to bloody radio 1,2, or local radio all the time. we have one small radio for when I'm stuck here at night (or national emergency, who knows.....) World Service is very soothing in the small hours. Any member of staff who tunes the dial away from radio 4 will be summarily dismissed.

Re: PRS licence to play music at work

Hannah Wynne Richards — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:25:03 GMT

I wouldn't have music-something cheerful may come over as callous to someone who's dreading the diagnosis will result in a PTS and the Dead March from Saul will do nothing to increase footfall

Wynne

Re: PRS licence to play music at work

Vikki Halliday LLB — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:46:28 GMT

However having looked at it again, we may need a PPL licence as this does not appear to have the same exemptions!

Re: PRS licence to play music at work

Vikki Halliday LLB — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:34:10 GMT

I placed an application for an exemption with PRS for our pre/kennels radio on the grounds that it was to calm nervous pets.

This was accepted and an exemption granted.

Re: PRS licence to play music at work

Bob Russell — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:03:22 GMT

Yes but not switched on! I think it still works.

Not quite sure if a PRS licence is required to play non-EU radio channels. My internet radio (+iphone) can get radio stations from all sorts of places. Just a thought!

Re: PRS licence to play music at work

Michael Woodhouse — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 11:26:52 GMT

Not even a radio in the operating theatre?

Re: PRS licence to play music at work

Bob Russell — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 11:07:01 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]

[quote user="Malcolm Ness"]

[quote user="Neal Palk"]Given the PRS greed,[/quote]

I have several friends who are musicians. They would firmly (and probably not very politely) disagree with that comment. We expect to be paid for our work, why shouldn't they?

[/quote]

I expect to be paid for my work but don't expect to be paid for the vaccination I gave to a dog every time it goes for a walk which benefits other dogs. Surely musicians are paid to write and record by a record company and a radio station pays for the rights to play the music so why should I have to pay to play it in my surgery? How many times do they want to be paid?

[/quote]

Many of them would be delighted to be paid once! The returns for musicians tend to be from live performances rather than recordings which can and are readily pirated (Not Guilty Mi'Lord).

My cousin is married to a composer (apparently quite famous!) but I hate to say I would pay not to have his music inflicted on me! It is rather ahead of its time for me! (Actually quite odd!).

Not sure I am interested in getting a PRS licence - better to have peace and quiet IMO.

Re: PRS licence to play music at work

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 10:33:54 GMT

[quote user="Malcolm Ness"]

[quote user="Neal Palk"]Given the PRS greed,[/quote]

I have several friends who are musicians. They would firmly (and probably not very politely) disagree with that comment. We expect to be paid for our work, why shouldn't they?

[/quote]

Re: PRS licence to play music at work

Catherine Williams — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 10:57:45 GMT

Currently in my waiting room and consult room you can hear the music from the flat upstairs....not lived in by anyone associated with the practice. Mainly got thumping baseline which is just bugging me as I can't quite work out what the music is....can't say that I'm enjoying it but can hear it. entertainment for all!

Re: PRS licence to play music at work

Lorna McHardy — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 07:22:37 GMT

[quote user="Michael Coe"]

Music at work can be a great way to help cheer clients up who are waiting for their consultation.

[/quote]

Only if they happen to like the particular music you're playing... otherwise, it's an annoyance. I find it an annoyance in most places, and also too loud. And speaking as the vet rather than the customer, music audible in the consulting room while I'm trying to consult is definitely an annoyance and a distraction.

Re: PRS licence to play music at work

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 21:36:28 GMT

[quote user="Michael Coe"]Music at work can be a great way to help cheer clients up who are waiting for their consultation.[/quote]

For "cheer up", read "irritate".

Re: PRS licence to play music at work

Neil Wheadon — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 18:43:01 GMT

There's an opening here for someone?

Ever been into HSBC, where the in house DJ cheerfully teling you about the great mortgage offer inbetween Dancing Queen and Boys of Summer, streamed nationwide. You could licence a vet radio with breaking news from Rolf Harris in Putney. 'And after a tense operation fluffy is going to make it.......' clients would love it

Re: PRS licence to play music at work

Michael Coe — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 18:26:58 GMT

Music at work can be a great way to help cheer clients up who are waiting for their consultation. I know music in Veterinary Practices is something new in terms of entertaining clients. In reality all workplaces have a radio of sorts and if it is being used to broadcast music in a public place then a PRS license is required by Law. It does not matter who is listening to the radio be it employees or clients. All broadcasting in a public place needs to have a licence in uk.

If you want to play music then why not use royalty free music. It saves getting a fine. Check out the Open Veterinary Directory and check out Instore Music Soloutions. ( No I do not work for them by the way or PRS just incase anyone is wondering).

The PRS fee is better than the fine and a PRS sticker has to be displayed to the public at your premises. I have worked in some retail stores where customers have reported the store to PRS just because they do not like music being played!

I also like to save money, when and where I can so a PRS licence costing £70.00? is better than a fine of £,000's.

Re: PRS licence to play music at work

Robin Grimmer — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 17:59:52 GMT

How about if you streamed Spotify? (legal streamed music service - monthly fee or free with adverts)

Re: PRS licence to play music at work

Mark Holmes — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 13:33:53 GMT

[quote user="patrick murphy"]

an old friend of mine got inspected as he had taken over an old hairdresser's premises, and he got fined for Classic FM in the ops area.

[/quote]

Even commercial radio? Surely the rights are paid for through ad revenues. If a licence is paid as well are the artiists not being paid twice?

Re: PRS licence to play music at work

patrick murphy — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 13:05:44 GMT

an old friend of mine got inspected as he had taken over an old hairdresser's premises, and he got fined for Classic FM in the ops area.

Re: PRS licence to play music at work

Rob Loxley — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 19:35:53 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]My interpretation of the law is also that clients are not there to be entertained by music even in part like they may be in a pub or club, are not paying to listen to it and I make no profit for playing it[/quote]

So if there is no benefit, why would you be playing music? I agree with Malcolm that if you are making use of someone else's work for your business benefit then you should pay.

You also need a ppl licence...

Re: PRS licence to play music at work

Malcolm Ness — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:51:26 GMT

[quote user="Neal Palk"]Given the PRS greed,[/quote]

I have several friends who are musicians. They would firmly (and probably not very politely) disagree with that comment. We expect to be paid for our work, why shouldn't they?

Re: PRS licence to play music at work

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:28:11 GMT

My interpretation of the law is also that clients are not there to be entertained by music even in part like they may be in a pub or club, are not paying to listen to it and I make no profit for playing it, therefore I am not bound by any licence. That said we don't have music but do have a television - does a similar situation arise if I've got football on the telly?

Re: PRS licence to play music at work

Michael Woodhouse — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:23:42 GMT

Sadly the opposite it true. We have just put a screen in the waiting room to entertain clients whilst they wait. It also drowns out the speech in the consult room as things can be overheard. Unless all the music was an original composition then we theoretically should hold the licence. Equally if music is played that can be heard by more than 1 member of staff (ie whilst operating) then we need a licence.

I am looking into all avenues to avoid NOT paying.

Re: PRS licence to play music at work

Neal Palk — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:20:10 GMT

I'm not sure it helps the OP, but as a nonvet/member of public, I have not experienced or expected music in a surgery waiting room. Given the PRS greed, constrained times and cost of maintaining the music supply etc...................I'd simply dispense with it ('cuse the pun) and bank the saving. Although idealistic, most clients don't expect to spend very long in the waiting area so are probably equally non-plussed?

Re: PRS licence to play music at work

peewit — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 06:59:44 GMT

We have a licence..... not a huge cost (think it's about £70 per year) but saves a poss huge fine!