Performing Rights Society

Click Stockport Viaduct for Home Page

Stockport Drs Co-operative
226 - 230 Wellington Rd Sth
Stockport
SK2 6NW

Telephone: 0161 429 6498

08 June 2006

Music in waiting rooms and on telephone lines on hold

The Performing Rights Society (PRS) is conducting a campaign targeting all GP surgeries and dentists without a PRS licence(www.prs.co.uk/health)

Some of you may not be aware that you require licences from 2 organisations to play music within your practices: PRS and PPL (see below) You need to be licensed even if the music is on TV and you have purchased a TV licence.

The most obvious situations requiring a licence are:
·  background music in waiting rooms
·  music when a phone call is on hold

Practices can telephone PRS for a quote on 0800 534 1000. Alternatively, there is a downloadable file on Music on Hold, follow http://www.prs.co.uk/DocsRepository/4184/MusicOnHold.pdf

Unfortunately, it is not straight forward as there are over 40 tariffs. But basically…..

· If you are already playing music in the waiting room you will need to pay a higher charge for the first year and then a standard charge for subsequent years.
· If you are not playing music but are going to in the near future…you will be charged at the standard rate.
· The tariff also varies depending on the number of seats in the waiting room and phone lines
· If you are using a CD player as well as a TV/radio the number of seats included in the fee reduces
· Any extra seats incur an extra charge

However, please note the PRS is not the only licence practices need Another license is needed from The Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL), who can be contacted as follows:
Tel: 0207 534 1000 (ask for the licensing dept.)
Website: www.ppluk.com
 
The licence money paid to PPL goes to record companies and performers whereas, the licence money paid to PRS goes to composers and publishers.
The PPL site is easier to use than the PRS and you access relevant information by:
Click the speaker (top left of home page)
Playing music in public
How to obtain a PPL licence
Doctor
Background Music - Telephone Music On Hold
Background Music - Waiting Rooms/Reception Areas

PPL Tariffs (ex Vat)
Waiting Room: £88.11
On Hold: 1-5 lines £110.92 and 6-15 lines £49.74