Comments on: More on that licence to listen to radio while eating

By: Colin Wilkinson

Colin Wilkinson — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 21:36:22 +0000

Royalty Free Music Radio (rfmradio.co.uk) – A Quality Alternative Music Source With No PRS/PPL Fees

Formed in 2009 RFM Radio provide a quality music service for businesses that require background music, but do not wish to pay the exorbitant PRS and PPL licence fees.

Anyone playing copyright music in public (ie: to an audience outside of his/her domestic or home circle) must have an appropriate licence from the PRS and PPL, which ranges from over £100 to £1000s per annum depending on the size of the establishment.

The ‘Bully Boy’ tactics of the PRS/PPL collection agencies pressurise businesses into buying a licence or they must cease playing music on their premises. They conveniently omit to tell them that they can play non copyrighted music legally without a licence!

Brothers Colin and Gary Wilkinson formed Rfmradio to provide a quality legitimate alternative music source for businesses at a reasonable cost, where there had previously been none available.

Sourcing quality music in different genres from unsigned bands/artists around the world, RFM Radio produce pre-recorded professionally DJ hosted shows, announcing track and artist details, providing a platform for emerging talent previously unavailable. We have an ever increasing demand from artists requesting to be on the playlist.

The shows are available in a variety of media formats through the internet, on SD cards or CD from as little as £4 per month. Rfm Radio also provide standalone players, amplifiers and SD card players to suit all businesses. You can listen to a small sample for free at rfmradio.co.uk.
In addition to providing background music, bespoke instore advertisements can be added – great for seasonal promotions and special offers.

Our client portfolio is expanding rapidly and we can be heard in a number of Subway stores, cafes, restaurants, hair dressers and other retailers throughout the uk.

We have just launched a stand alone mains powered music player ideal for smaller businesses without internet access which includes 4 hours of royalty free music for £49.99 with extra 4 hours for just £29.99.

Contact Name: Gary Wilkinson
Role: Head of Marketing
Company: RFMRadio.co.uk
Contact E-mail: marketing@rfmradio.co.uk
Contact Phone: 07961 531868
Company Website: rfmradio.co.uk

By: ahdkaw

ahdkaw — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:21:57 +0000

My mother has been recently approached and scared witless by these monsters. If they dare to come into the shop when I’m there, I will grab them by the scruff of the neck and throw them out. They will not be getting any money from us (although my mother may just pay them off to get them off her back, who have already fined her an additional £50 for turning off the radio and not paying them).

These people are evil (PPL UK).

By: Ben

Ben — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:47:30 +0000

@matt – surely if someone is listening to the radio on their headphones it qualifies as ‘personal’ listening, rather than ‘public performance’ and hence does not attract any fees?

By: Roy

Roy — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:50:53 +0000

That really stinks!

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:46:02 +0000

Olly – yes to all of them.

By: Olly

Olly — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:40:47 +0000

Would PRS expect payment if I listened to the radio in an office via my headphones? What about Spotify, where each person is listening to a different track? What about when I listen to my iPod?

That doesn’t make any sense.

By: Mark A.

Mark A. — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:48:36 +0000

The UK radio licence ended in the 70′s when the government thought that everybody had a TV and was buying TV licences.
So as we don’t need a licence to listen to the radio at home, don’t know why we can’t listen to it in shops or restaurant.
I have heard taped music that repeats every 4 hours in shops.

By: guylaine l'heureux

guylaine l'heureux — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:06:00 +0000

In Canada, SOCAN handles performing rights. You will not need a license if you want to a radio station within your establishment as your background music. This applies for over-the-air or satelitte radio stations.
On the other hand, if music played in a bar, restaurant, etc. comes from one’s server or CDs then it requires a license from SOCAN and a separate license from SODRAC.

Cf. http://www.socan.ca/jsp/en/resources/tariffs.jsp
http://www.socan.ca/jsp/en/pub/music_users/MU_FAQs.jsp
http://www.sodrac.ca/MusiqueAmbiance_EN.aspx

By: Roy

Roy — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:51:29 +0000

Here’s an interesting question – do radio stations have to pay a licence to play the radio on loudspeakers in their very own sales office?

That would mean one licence to transmit it, and another to receive it.

That, indeed, would be madness.