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Singer In Grocery Store Ordered To Pay Royalties

Posted by samzenpus on from the silence-is-golden dept.

yog writes "An assistant at a grocery store in Clackmannanshire, Scotland, was ordered by the Performing Right Society (PRS) to obtain a performer's license and to pay royalties because she was informally singing popular songs while stocking groceries. The PRS later backed down and apologized. This after the same store had turned off the radio after a warning from the PRS. We have entered an era where music is no longer an art for all to enjoy, but rather a form of private property that must be regulated and taxed like alcohol. 'Music to the ears' has become 'dollars in the bank'."

3 of 645 comments (clear)

  1. What the...... by socceroos · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    Bastards.

    Come on, it has to be said - this capitalism is getting out of hand. People are getting stupid.

  2. Guessing what happened... by abigsmurf · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    The PRS sent her a letter saying that she wasn't allowed the radio on in the store front. She sent a letter back saying "I'll just sing instead". PRS took this to mean "I'll sing to the customers" rather than "I'll sing to myself when working".

    I'd be willing to bet she sent an inflammatory letter back to the PRS that helped cause the misunderstanding. In general there's a certain type of people who send these "nanny state gone mad!" stories to tabloids and you never hear the full chain of events.

    1. Re:Guessing what happened... by abigsmurf · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      You're guessing without evidence that a company was at fault and not an individual who had already broken the law with the radio and then sold her story to the papers?