British Woman Told To Buy Performing Arts License To Sing At Work

[Rage for Order]

From the "They can't be serious" department:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1220423/Corner-store-worker-told-stop-singing-works--pay-licence.html

Music police have told a grandmother to stop singing behind the counter of the corner shop where she works - or pay for a licence.

Sandra Burt began serenading customers at the A & T Food Store in Clackmannan, near Stirling, after the owners were contacted by The Performing Right Society and told they would have to pay an £80 annual fee to keep the radio on in the shop.

They decided not to bother and now 56-year-old Sandra sings tracks 'from anyone from The Noisettes, to the Rolling Stones' as she stocks the shelves and weighs customers' purchases.

Now, however, the PRS, which collects royalties on behalf of music industry bosses and artists, has told her that her 'spontaneous outbursts of joy' constitute live public performance, and she could have to pay annual fees of 'four figures'.

Gareth Kelly, music sales advisor for PRS, said that Mrs Burt was getting up to 'mischief' to get round the radio licence fee.

He said: 'Using any copyright material in your store, without paying for it, is illegal.

'It doesn't matter whether you're singing a Robbie Williams track, or listening to a Robbie Williams track, you still have to pay for it.

...

More at the link

Music police? Really?

[DJ13]

1. I think Roger Waters saw this coming nearly 30 years ago

[Rage for Order]

2. Are bands and musicians really pissed off at people who sing their songs?

I wonder if the Stones and others truly expect people to pay a fee for the privilege of singing their songs?

:shrug:

[DJ13]

3. I wouldnt think so

Well, maybe those asshats in Metallica.

[Rage for Order]

4. LOL

:rofl:

Damn you Lars Ulrich!!!! Look what thou hast wrought!!!!

[Monk06]

6. Saw it coming the radio licence system has been in place since before WWII

They used to patrol neighborhoods with radio
tracking trucks to find people who weren't paying
their fees to have a radio.

In the post war period Brits hid their radios like
spies hid their wireless transmitters in the French
underground.

This is not new. The Brits are the worst busybodies
on earth.

[DJ13]

7. I didnt know that, thanks

[Liberal_in_LA]

5. That's so crazy

[KamaAina]

8. Somebody badly needs to be Rick Rolled

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HrSN7176XI

[Nikki Stone1]

9. OMFG!

It's a Monty Python Skit brought to life.