Music At Work - Keeping Within The Law

Many employers are unaware that playing any kind of music in the workplace constitutes a public performance, and so to do so requires a music licence from the Performance Rights Society (PRS) to stay within the law.

Employers require a licence to play music from radios, CDs, TVs, over a telephone system and even for live music performances.

Failure to obtain such a licence can result in a hefty bill, as many businesses have found out to their cost:

• St. Joseph's Workshops in Wigan, a maker of communion wafers, were cold-called by the PRS, who subsequently sent them a bill for £97.62 after discovering that the company allowed workers to listen to a radio in their workshop.
• Anthony Rana, owner of a patisserie in Sheffield, was told he had to obtain a music licence despite the fact that he only played talk radio stations in his workplace.