A wide range of charities and community organisation, including churches, are facing a increase in costs following the revision of the rules governing the public performing of recorded music by the Intellectual Property Office, part of Lord Mandelson’s Department for Business Innovation and Skills. The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) are spearheading a campaign against the change.
Stuart Etherington, Chief Executive of NCVO said:
“It is shameful that money intended for charitable causes will go on paying royalties for playing music. Events like these often raise no more than a few hundred pounds but this is vital income for charities. This scheme will make it impossible for small community based charities or organisations to play music at their social and fundraising events because of the cost involved. It will effectively spell the death of the charity tea dance in a village hall or a fundraising disco in aid of a good cause.
“We call on PPL and PRS for Music to review this decision and not charge organisations that are fundraising for the good of their community.“
Prominent political and religious blogger Cranmer wrote on his blog, “It is Cromwellian cunning; the politics of the Puritan; the scheme of the Scrooge. Churches, charities, scout huts, village halls and sports clubs face new £20 million levy on music thanks to Lord Mandelson, who also happens to be a Church Commissioner.” He goes on to quote the conservative Shadow Minister for Charities, Nick Hurd MP, “This is another Labour assault on the fabric of British community life. Having shut down post offices and local pubs, Labour’s Whitehall bureaucrats now have village halls, scout huts and churches in their sights.”
The NCVO have launched a campaign to stop the proposal, which needs Parliamentary approval in April 2010, called Don’t Stop the Music.
HT: Cranmer
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Maybe I’m missing something obvious here, but don’t churches and bookshops already pay a licence fee that would cover this via CCLI?
No. CCLI doesn’t cover public performance of recorded music, which churches and other charities are currently excempt from. That would be the PPL.