Radio banned from my workplace????

Question

Been told no more radio in the factory as it would cost £1200 for a public licence

WTF is that all about?

Is this a new thing? Ive been at the same company for 5 years with no mention of this in the past.

At what point does listening to the radio become "public"?

Anybody know any links or official sites with more info on the subject?

Answer 1

Musicians and CEOs of radio stations weren't getting paid well enough,  so now you need to pay them for exposing them to your co workers and customers.  How dare you give them free publicity?

Im assuming you are in the UK, I wouldnt be suprised if there is a petition somewhere.

Answer 2

Sorry, mate. It's the truth. But 1,200 quid seems a lot - unless it's a huge operation. Bet your boss found out he had to pay (any amount) and may have decided it wasn't worth it for him to pay for your radio listening pleasure.

Then, perhaps (big if), he padded the actual amount a bit so's you blokes wouldn't come down on him about paying it. If it's that important, press him on the actual amount and mention that he can negotiate.

-a guy named duh

Answer 3

Where are you from? Hope the site helps

Answer 4

You must be from the UK.  By bf in England tells me that you have to have a licence for tv sets in your home over there, so it does not shock me about the radio.  Take a portable mp3 player to work with you with headphones.

Answer 5

In Australia we have the PPCA www.ppca.com.au

You pay for a license and they pass the money on as royalties which are broken up based on the record industry charts so the money eventually goes to the recording artists /  their record company.

DJ's also need a license to perform (mobile), clubs (resident DJs) and musicians must pay royalties when performing cover songs.  www.apra.com.au

Answer 6

how could you work all day with no radio get a new job

Answer 7

sadly it is true.

a radio is for Private listening once you start using it in the work place with a few people listening they you need a licence to do so.

to carry on listening we all got together and lucky for us the owner of our firm was OK paying the fees

regards x Kitti x

Answer 8

It's the Performing Rights Society which collects licence fees on behalf of the artists whose music is played on the radio. This is common practice. If your company has not paid its licence it has been breaking the law. It doesn't matter whether it's on the factory floor or muzak in a supermarket, it's still classed as a public performance.

Get yourself an Ipod and listen to that.

Answer 9

They just ban everything these days

Answer 10

Its been around for years.  We were told to stop playing musci in our small shop unless we got a license.

Even taxis need one to play music.