Yes. The same disgraceful system is operating in Germany. The GEMA is actually extorting money from places, which put on gigs, when singer-songwriters are performing their own material. I do not think this outrage is known about by the general public at large. It is also quite clear that at the end of the day, it is damaging the prospects of new performers (and in particular singer-songwriters) beyond measure.
The inevitable consequence of this practice is that either fewer pub owners put on gigs, or else that they insist that the musicians themselves accept the responsibilities as "the organiser". That is why I had to pay a fee of 107 Euros for our gig in Lennep earlier this year. (The legal implications of this are dangerous too, because it could mean that the band would be liable for any accidents or injury to third parties). To add insult to injury, they (GEMA) sent me a form to claim for a portion of this fee back - as if offering thirty pieces of silver to musicians somehow made this disgraceful practice any more legitimate.
When songs are known on a commercial scale, I can just about understand that some royalties have to get back to the writers. However, the very idea that singer-songwriters should be entitled to claim extra money for playing their own material is nothing short of a scandal.
Bands playing traditional material should be left alone altogether. In view of the way that those greedy bastards in the publishing industry closed down most of the internet radio at a stroke three or four years ago, I hope they rot in Hell.