Pub bosses land £2k bill for playing music

Jasbir Singh and Mandy Felton have been banned by London's High Court from playing any more recorded music at any premises they run until they bring their licences up to date.

They were caught by 'music police' from music licence organisation, Phonographic Performance Ltd (PPL) playing music at the Prince Albert pub in Sams Lane, West Bromwich, without a licence.

Their case serves as a warning to pubs, clubs, commercial premises and anywhere music is played publicly throughout the Midlands to make sure their licences are up to date.

Singh and Felton's case went before one of the country's top judges and he banned the proprietors – who were not in court and not represented - from playing music recorded music not just at the Prince Albert but at any premises they run until they bring their licences up to date.

He also ordered them to pay £1,909 in legal costs run up by PPL in taking them to court.

The order was imposed after Mr Justice Newey heard a PPL inspector heard music being played on the premises, when they did not hold a licence.

The inspector heard tracks including 'Imagine (Asylum Remix)' during his visit on September 4.

Charlotte Scott, counsel for PPL, told the judge solicitors had sent letters to the premises informing them of the nature and extent of PPL's repertoire and the fact that the playing in public of sound recordings without PPL's licence or permission constitutes infringement of its copyright, and inviting them to acquire a licence.

The ban applies to all forms of mechanically recorded music such as records, tapes and CDs in PPL's repertoire.