Radio & TV Stations, Pubs, Restaurants, Shops & retail outlets, pay an annual Performing Rights Society (PRS) fee

You might feel that with so much 'piped' music, in store radio it's often difficult to concentrate on deciding on a purchase!

That aside we're hearing horror stories from the business community Country wide, that PRS has been targeting small garages, workshops & offices that have radios playing demanding an annual £45.00 licence fee as their radio's 'might' be heard by the odd member of public

PRS say's "It has a duty to licence business premises that are using music to either enhance the working environment or provide music for customers, it's right that music creators receive royalties"

It's warned garage staff they're breaking the law if the ruling is ignored

100's of angry business owners are making a point of ignoring the demands saying "it's bureaucracy gone mad"

Amongst the comments:

"We've received a lot of letters but have a big shredder", "You need a licence for absolutely everything these days, they can stick their up their a..e", "Its another tax the Country is making us pay"

Garages in particular make clear for Health & Safety reasons the public aren't allowed to enter workshops, so any 'public' listening could be some distance from the radio

Perhaps PRS will soon by chasing after cars with very loud stereos for revenue?

So will PRS soon apply to all random or transient listening, boats, beaches noisey cars?

Goodness let's not give them ideas, let's just 'listen to the music' quietly

18/6/09 - It is surely the most ludicrous idea, how can this be enforced there are 1000's of little garage workshops in the UK - Grant Peterson - Slough

19/6/09 - I agree with you and enjoyed the way you wrote the article but I think the whole thing will blow over. It's handbags at 7 paces!!!!! How can they really enforce this ludicrous so-called law?

By the way I like the photo of the 60s type Roberts radio. John - Herne Bay

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