Music at work?

[LeftMuffin]

So we've recently been told that we can no longer listen to music at work as they won't pay for a licence.

Now I understand needing a licence to listen to the radio. However apparently it applies for everything and the only way we are allowed to do so is through headphones.

Does this still apply to songs and albums I have on my iPhone? Surely the fact that I have paid for them means I can listen to them without having to use headphones?

I always thought that shops got round this issue by playing CDs thus not needing a licence.

I've looked on the net but it isn't particularly clear on the matter.

Any help would be great. Hate working in silence

[Hoofy]

Bit annoying. Re your music, you pay to listen to it privately if I have my facts right.

http://www.ppluk.com/
http://www.prsformusic.com/

I think you actually need TWO licences. Rage forming?

I use my own music so a big \/ at them.

[Magic919]

You can listen to the music on your iPhone. However, it becomes a problem once anyone else can hear it. That's when you need a PRS licence.

[craigjm]

Magic919 said:

You can listen to the music on your iPhone. However, it becomes a problem once anyone else can hear it. That's when you need a PRS licence.

This

[mph1977]

craigjm said:

Magic919 said:

You can listen to the music on your iPhone. However, it becomes a problem once anyone else can hear it. That's when you need a PRS licence.

This

that's my understanding of the situation ...

[scoobyfreak10]

So it becomes a problem once anyone else can hear the music , surely this would be either good or bad for the artist due to the fact it may gain a new audience that may purchase an artists work. However all of this licence for this and not allowed to do that is making it hardly worthwhile doing anything anymore and soon we will all become robots that can`t say or do anything without a licence.

[Pothole]

scoobyfreak10 said:

So it becomes a problem once anyone else can hear the music , surely this would be either good or bad for the artist due to the fact it may gain a new audience that may purchase an artists work. However all of this licence for this and not allowed to do that is making it hardly worthwhile doing anything anymore and soon we will all become robots that can`t say or do anything without a licence.

How soon, exactly?

[irocfan]

Magic919 said:

You can listen to the music on your iPhone. However, it becomes a problem once anyone else can hear it. That's when you need a PRS licence.

hmmm - shame the twunts on public transport using their cheapo earbuds can't be collared for this

[GetCarter]

scoobyfreak10 said:

surely this would be either good or bad for the artist due to the fact it may gain a new audience that may purchase an artists work.

FYI - PRS don't pay money to specific composers under that sort of licence - it's allocated to all composers who are PRS registered - the amount they get is determined by how much they earn from PRS.

So... the radio will log the play, and PRS will pay the artist for that play, but the public buildings licence is non composer specific.

[anonymous-user]

Pothole said:

scoobyfreak10 said:

So it becomes a problem once anyone else can hear the music , surely this would be either good or bad for the artist due to the fact it may gain a new audience that may purchase an artists work. However all of this licence for this and not allowed to do that is making it hardly worthwhile doing anything anymore and soon we will all become robots that can`t say or do anything without a licence.

How soon, exactly?

[scoobyfreak10]

el stovey said:

Pothole said:

scoobyfreak10 said:

So it becomes a problem once anyone else can hear the music , surely this would be either good or bad for the artist due to the fact it may gain a new audience that may purchase an artists work. However all of this licence for this and not allowed to do that is making it hardly worthwhile doing anything anymore and soon we will all become robots that can`t say or do anything without a licence.

How soon, exactly?

How Soon Is Now !!!!

[BlimeyCharlie]

Cant help but think that someone 'high up' at your firm just does not want to hear music on the shop floor or wherever it is being played.

So they've used an excuse rather than attract criticism, as we often find.

The way 'round it of course is to establish how much a licence is, then club together and enjoy music all day long...legally too.

Then you'll see if that is the real reason.

I personally have an irrational fear of Radio 2. And Radio1. And all commercial radio...It is omnipresent and just awful. I also don't like the music of other people being played, especially at work, which is a hideous environment as it is, without having Lighthouse Family etc on all day, or traffic updates, weather and a 'debate' about speedboats being dangerous.

I could be your boss...

Sorry to go on!

[Mastodon2]

We used to have a bit of cheeky internet music on at work, never in an area a client might stumble across it of course, but then we got shut down, told the company would not pay for a licence, no more music at work. Listening on a private listening device with headphones is not an issue, it's "broadcasting" music so that more than one person can hear it.

Personally, I'm not bothered, as I don't listen to background music, If I listen to music then I'm focused just on listening and nothing else, and I'd rather not have to suffer the cretinous noise you hear on the likes of Galaxy, Kiss and Radio 1.

[davepoth]

It's merely a civil issue - the worst that can happen is a trip to the small claims court. In addition the PRS don't have any rights to enter your property, so if they can't hear the music from the street they have no way of finding out if you have a radio.

That said, the money does get distributed to thousands of artists all over the country, and for many of them it's their only source of income.