Music licensing fees for charities ‘shameful’, says NCVO

Fundraising | Celina Ribeiro | 13 Nov 2009

Moves to force charities to pay royalties for playing music at events have been slammed as "shameful" and potentially debilitating by the NCVO.

Yesterday music licensing bodies PPL and PRS for Music announced they will develop a joint pilot licensing scheme for civil society organizations following the Government’s change to licensing legislation. The organizations have begun a consultation with the Community Sector Law Monitoring Group, made up of a number of umbrella bodies including the NCVO, to decide on a licensing system.

Stuart Etherington, chief executive of NCVO, however condemned the decision. “It is shameful that money intended for charitable causes will go on paying royalties for playing music.

The NCVO claimed that such licensing obligations would spell the end to small-scale charity events, such as tea hall dances, which often raise very little money, but are critical to the running of small community groups and charities.

“[The changes] will effectively spell the death of the charity tea dance in a village hall or a fundraising disco in aid of a good cause,” said Etherington.

A PPL spokesperson defended the move. “Music is hugely beneficial to charities and it is only right that the people who create, produce and perform the music should be paid for it use. Charities are not exempt or awarded special discounts for standard charges or costs. This applies to charges such as electricity and heating as well as for the use of music,” he said.
“Following this change in legislation, what we want to do is simplify the administration process for organisations so that they can continue to benefit from playing music legally."

He said the PPL and PRS are looking forward to consulting with the CSLMG about a licensing system.

Directory: National Council of Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)
Who's Who: Sir Stuart Etherington

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