Radio licence for your business

[RedRobin]

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As a recording musician I understand the value of having music registered with PRS. However, I think they are a pain in the arse, they take it too far, and I don't agree with people having to pay to listen to music broadcast on the radio. I don't see why we should have to pay to watch TV either (BBC licence).

Small businesses need to pay PRS fees like a hole in the head! They need to keep a workforce happy and productive. The feckin taxman takes enough for doing nothing without such extras.

And without PRS payments, the composers will shut up shop too, so you will be listening to silence.

Just to clarify... this is NOT a tax.

....I never said it was a tax, Rich, but that it was an additional expense to the tax burden on small businesses.

Composers who shut up shop? Real musicians want to create/perform music regardless of income from it.

Anyone who calls themselves a "composer" sounds somewhat ostentatious and/or pretentious to me anyway.

[rich83]

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As a recording musician I understand the value of having music registered with PRS. However, I think they are a pain in the arse, they take it too far, and I don't agree with people having to pay to listen to music broadcast on the radio. I don't see why we should have to pay to watch TV either (BBC licence).

Small businesses need to pay PRS fees like a hole in the head! They need to keep a workforce happy and productive. The feckin taxman takes enough for doing nothing without such extras.

And without PRS payments, the composers will shut up shop too, so you will be listening to silence.

Just to clarify... this is NOT a tax.

....I never said it was a tax, Rich, but that it was an additional expense to the tax burden on small businesses.

Composers who shut up shop? Real musicians want to create/perform music regardless of income from it.

Anyone who calls themselves a "composer" sounds somewhat ostentatious and/or pretentious to me anyway.

Composer... Song writer.... doesnt matter what you want to call it, it amounts to the same. Most of the popular music you hear on radios has been composed written by someone who you will have never heard of.... this is how they make their money.

[PDT]

There are a huge amount of scammers out there that try to defraud businesses claiming they are the PRS /PPL

Remember that the PRS are not an official government body, and they regulate themselves. TELL THEM NOTHING OVER THE PHONE! You have no legal obligation to give them any information or to allow them onto your business premises.

[RedRobin]

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Rich, it's PRS who are mainly responsible for killing live music in many pubs. Among my friends who are musicians, not one of them does it for money even if they occasionally make money from performing. That includes one who has worked with The Rolling Stones, another with Elton John and who has done world stadium tours. Sometimes they get money and sometimes they don't and just enjoy the playing with other musicians and applause. I've always refused money for any gigs - I don't want to be told what to play or when to play it. Buy me a few drinks or a meal on the house.

I don't agree with what you are saying about composers needing PRS.

[Eddie-NL]

where I used to work they never paid the PRS, just put up notices saying that it wasn't allowed to have radio on. Even though they PAT tested them and the music was on all the time.

They were a bunch of D**ks, so might have to grass them up

[rich83]

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Rich, it's PRS who are mainly responsible for killing live music in many pubs. Among my friends who are musicians, not one of them does it for money even if they occasionally make money from performing. That includes one who has worked with The Rolling Stones, another with Elton John and who has done world stadium tours. Sometimes they get money and sometimes they don't and just enjoy the playing with other musicians and applause. I've always refused money for any gigs - I don't want to be told what to play or when to play it. Buy me a few drinks or a meal on the house.

I don't agree with what you are saying about composers needing PRS.

Ohh well.... i'll do all my gigs for free then, just cos you and your friends do.... it doesn't work like that Robin. Unfortunately you cannot juxtapose your situation with a working "pro" musician or song writer.

You dont want paying because its not your living, or your profession... its a hobby.

[Eddie-NL]

slightly off topic Rich

Do they PRS give you money? if so how do they decide how much?

[RedRobin]

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In my opinion, the people who really lose because of PRS are the workers, especially in factories/workshops - They are denied the pleasure which music can contribute to an atmosphere. Small companies can't necessarily afford to pay PRS fees and composers/songwriters can make a living without this additional income. The buck should stop with the radio station paying to broadcast a song.

[rich83]

slightly off topic Rich

Do they PRS give you money? if so how do they decide how much?

Not me personally, because I have not written anything.   However, if you write a song that ends up on an album you get a percentage based on its length and number of copies sold. Im not 100% sure how they work out the Radio figures... but I imagine its similar.

[rich83]

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In my opinion, the people who really lose because of PRS are the workers, especially in factories/workshops - They are denied the pleasure which music can contribute to an atmosphere. Small companies can't necessarily afford to pay PRS fees and composers/songwriters can make a living without this additional income. The buck should stop with the radio station paying to broadcast a song.

Maybe next time I pop up to AKS, I will take my Trombone and exchange a Service for an hours worth of music.......  


You are making a wild guess there Robin to facts and figures.... I cant afford a set of AP Brakes, I dont think they would be too pleased if i tried to walk some out of their workshop! 

[RedRobin]

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I have written and co-written all my music and looked into the PRS and, with other very experienced musicians, decided against using them.

I say "wriiten" but I don't literally write or construct - The music just comes of its own accord. I just wing it every time - It's as Keith Richards says:



If anyone is interested, you can click my forum sig and go to my Facebook (or MySpace) music page and listen.

[rich83]

You are not operating on a commercial level Robin... It would be pointless you are correct. 

[RedRobin]

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In my opinion, the people who really lose because of PRS are the workers, especially in factories/workshops - They are denied the pleasure which music can contribute to an atmosphere. Small companies can't necessarily afford to pay PRS fees and composers/songwriters can make a living without this additional income. The buck should stop with the radio station paying to broadcast a song.

Maybe next time I pop up to AKS, I will take my Trombone and exchange a Service for an hours worth of music.......  


You are making a wild guess there Robin to facts and figures.... I cant afford a set of AP Brakes, I dont think they would be too pleased if i tried to walk some out of their workshop!  

....Is your trombone your only source of income? Any art suffers from being tethered as the sole source of income - Until it creates its own wealth. Follow the vision and not the dollar and the dollar usually follows.

[rich83]

Yes..  And as soon as I have to get a 2nd source of income I will put it up in the loft and never touch it ever again. 

[RedRobin]

You are not operating on a commercial level Robin... It would be pointless you are correct.  

....This is true. To operate on a commercial level would destroy the music which I am blessed to have come out of me.