Legally speaking, you require a licence to play a radio in a shop irrespective of what is playing. The same applies to any form of 'Background Music' system, whether music is playing or not.

The PRS calculate the licence fee by means of the hours of playing time per day and the average audience.

However, if the radio is in the upstairs flat for the benefit of the occupant of the flat, but it can be heard in the shop...!!

Charities are not exempt from licencing, but this opens up a moral dilemma. If a charity is paying a licence fee, then the money being collected is, in part, not going to the charity at all.

It is arguable that all overheads have to be met, and this is the dilemma. Which overheads are morally acceptable, and which are not?

Rent, gas, electricity, water, telephone, stationery, staff wages, PRS/MCPS licence - where do you stop?

The difficulty comes from 'Who benefits most from licence fees?'. Sadly, it is not the artiste, nor the composer! No, the people who are being 'protected' receive very little 'Royalties' compared with what is actually collected!

Without actual figures to back this up, I'd better say no more - however, I'm sure someone else can oblige!!