It is the reason why Sam Smiths banned all music in their pubs that is important. It was because they were not prepared to pay the increase in the required PRS/PPL licence.

It is also the reason why other chains in the UK also now have a non-music policy. It is now clear that the idea that music is a goose that will always lay golden eggs is being seen to be false. For there is clearly a limit to how long premises will be prepared to give in to this form of extortion.

The sad thing is that it is music that is the loser in a dispute where neither side (or any other body or organisation) seem to care very much about the future of music - except as a purely finanicial concern.

I would argue that any needless and clumsy limitation of music making is a serious one.