Four trade bodies have come together to fight moves to hike up fees for playing recorded music in pubs.
PPL has unveiled plans to increase its Specially Featured Entertainment’ tariff by an average of around 2,500%. The fee covers the cost of DJs playing copyrighted music at discos in pubs, bars and clubs.
The move has been met with scorn by many pubs. Industry bodies the British Beer & Pub Association, the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, the British Hospitality Association and the Bar Entertainment & Dance Association have set up a fighting fund to combat the move.
Brigid Simmonds, BBPA chief executive, said: "PPL are at risk of abusing their monopoly position as the sole provider of copyright recorded music in the marketplace. We hope they will listen to the wide range of voices on this issue, and we would welcome further dialogue with them as soon as possible.”