If there's only me working in the back do I still have to get a PPL? The website is less than useful to be honest.

The workshop is at the back of the shop and the door would be closed so customers can't hear it…

Fat Lad

It effectively covers any playing of recorded music or music videos in a commercial, non-domestic setting – so the back room of a shop, or even a home office, may require a licence (but a private wedding party at a hotel may not). It also covers playing recorded music on your premises via radio/TV.

Nice of them to use the word 'may' to prevent any risk of information being divulged

IIRC the last one to visit my dad's old factory had the radio thrown at him as he made a hasty retreat for the door.

You don't have to give them access, and there's no legal obligation to buy one of their licenses. It's basically extortion.

theyve been hassling me for about 3-4 weeks…ive done tons of research and come to same conclusion….;last time they called i switched off the radio and told them to send an inspector round….not seen one yet!

Funny thing is they dont tell you it doesn't cover all commercial stations as some pay the royalties themselves as they need you to listen for advertising revenue…..

Is this different to PRS?

Good thread! I've paid PRS for our venue, now PPL reckon I owe them money. The stuff they sent me seemed to relate to music videos rather than music though, so I've put them on hold. I tried their website, but as quoted above it's very vague and ambiguous. This is for a private function venue btw.

How would they find out? Surely you just wouldn't give them access?

So you need both a PRS and PPL? What a joke. They're collecting royalties twice.