After reading about John's problems with his new gig, I wonder how long it will be before it becomes uneconomical to play music anywhere. Here in the UK we have the Performers Rights Society which collects money from anywhere that plays live or recorded music, including places like the hairdresser who has the radio on. No one wants to see songwriters ripped-off, but whatever happened to common sense?

Now we also need an entertainment license to perform anything, anywhere. This means, for example, that a group of people singing Christmas Carols outside a house need a license. If they move to another house, they need another license because it's a different location. Now look at the penalties for breach of this law -

Quote:

LIST OF OFFENCES UNDER THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) (NI) ORDER
1985
OFFENCE PENALTY
WHERE THERE HAS BEEN NO ENTERTAINMENT LICENCE ISSUED
Provision of dancing, singing or music or any
entertainment of a like kind held indoors
Fine of up to £20,000 and/ or a maximum
of 6 months imprisonment
Provision of public musical entertainment held
wholly or mainly in the open air on private land
Fine of up to £20,000 and/ or a maximum
of 6 months imprisonment.



So, if our singers visit ten houses, they could get a fine of up to £200,000 ($300,000) or five years imprisonment.

How long before they just ban music altogether?

ROG.

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