There has been much discussion in the folk community about this topic. There is also a discussion going on in the usenet newsgroup UK.Music.Folk about the PRS (Performing Rights Society) issues.

I am not a member of a PRO as I am not a writer, but I have kept watch on the discussions. I suggest that you look at the Folk Alliance Archives and look at what some folks have said there. I especially urge you to read Mark Moss's and Joel Mabus's words on the subject. These two gentleman have wonderfully articulated the issues that have been brought up time and again not only by venue owners but performers as well.

BTW-the link above gives all the threads in the archives. I am not sure how to isolate them, but the PRO discussions have "PRO" in the thread titles.

Good luck,

Deb Cowan