So, the 'almighty alliance' seem to have "finally" realised that we're into the 21st century, some 9 years after the rest of us! Not only have the fees for workplaces been reduced, but so have the fees for online broadcasting, something I've lobbied for, for years. Well finally, we're getting somewhere with what I've described as a "rather slow, antequated, and for the most part, rather lazy" organisation, in realising that times have changed, and that they may well have changed their perception of modern technology for the good of those using it.
Obviously, my main interest is in online broadcasting, but I'll start with listening to a radio at work. Over the past few years, a multitude of small to medium sized businesses were blanketed with letters from the MCPS/PRS alliance, threatening action against them for having a radio on in their shops, workshops and offices. This was seen with the public as nothing short of a disgrace, even BBC News and others reported on the patheticness of this policy. Well, like anything that is owned by someone else, a licence is needed to use it, and now, the new PRS for Music organisation have finally realised that these businesses simply couldn't afford the extortionate rates demanaded.
If you run, or indeed ran an office that had a radio station in the background, or for that matter, a shop or workshop, you can now buy a licence from the new PRS for Music organisation for as little at £44 ex VAT per year. Because of this, I've changed my view on this matter. For this little fee, your workforce's entertainment must surely be worth this small outlay, to allow them the little bit of entertainment they can get from the workplace whilst doing their jobs? If you feel that this is too much of an expense, even in this current worsening financial crisis, then, I'm afraid, you are just a tight, miserable, do-gooder who shouldn't be in a position of such authority. For £44 quid a year, your workers are worth it.
Now, onto my main point, broadcasting of music over the internet, which I've fought hard and fast for. It is now possible to apply for, and acquire through the PRS for Music website, a licence for small webcasters, which works out at around £10 per month. A far cry from what the fee's were some 4 or 5 years ago, when I first visited both royalty societies, and also who was then at virgin radio, James Cridland, who also had an interest in this field. At last, I think that at last, PRS for Music have come into the 21st century, and realised that the fee's they were expecting, were simply uneconomical.
Today, I think a justice has been done for those with me, lobbying against the rediculous policies adopted by the then MCPS/PRS Alliance, and what they have now decided, albeit several years too late, should now allow broadcasting via the internet to prosper.
I do believe radio broadcast via the internet is the future of radio broadcasting in the long-term, be it broadcast direct to the web, or using the internet to get transmissions to analogue transmitters, but today marks a massive step forward in allowing a legal, fully legitimate, broadcast platform to develop on the internet.
There is one footnote here however. As I appaud the PRS for Music organisation in their steps today, they MUST police the system much more forcefully than they have in the past, especially in relation to those broadcasting without the correct clearances. It is NOT fair for those wanting to broadcast legitimately having to pay fee's when many get away with doing so scott free. I look forward to hearing from the PRS for Music organisation on how they plan to do this, and to stop repeat performances of many examples of this, including the highly publicised case of Hitz Radio UK.
As always, I'd love to hear your comments on this!