Not apparently a PRS issue either but one for Phonographic Performance Limited [PPL].

Quiet pint returns as pubs ban music.
Exclusive by Brendan Williams
Daily Mirror Friday 3 December 2004.

Hundreds of pubs have banned background music because of a huge rise in licence fees to play the tunes.

Brewers Samuel Smith have ordered landlords to switch off sound systems after it was announced costs could soar by 500 per cent.

Bosses refused to say why the ban was imposed. But it is thought to be in protest at the price rises by Phonographic Performance Limited, the body which makes sure record companies receive royalties.

At the moment a large pub pays £214 a year for a music licence, but that will go up to £1,000 under a new rates system which comes into force in 2006.

Yorkshire-based Samuel Smith, which has around 200 pubs, is believed to be the first brewery to ditch music over the fees. The move has been met with a mixed reception by landlords. Some claim customers will stay away, others believe many drinkers will be glad to have a quiet pint.

One said: "It's a mistake. At this time of year people will be coming in for Christmas lunches and like a bit of festive background music".

But a Samuel Smith regular declared: "Thank God. Its nice to have a quiet pint without music blaring."

Jill Drew of PPL said: "On a weekly basis the cost of playing music in pubs is not that much."

ENDS

The danger here is that the Daily Mirror does not seem to think that there is any other form of music than recorded background music and makes no distinction about exactly what Samuel Smiths ahve 'ditched'.

Many of us may welcome the absence of so-called background recorded music blaring out – but would not welcome the absence of the many forms of live music that struggle to survive in our smaller pubs.