Bed & Breakfast News Christmas 2016 (#43) | Page 19

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Changes to PPL
Music Licensing
- including a
new ‘exemption’
for small B&Bs
An expert from PPL spells out to us
how recent changes affect B&Bs
and guest houses - including a new
‘exemption’ for small B&Bs.
Experiences
That’s what many consumers are chasing
in this day and age, and the hospitality
sector is no stranger to delivering unique
experiences for guests.
Whether it’s using a specialist music
supplier to develop a bespoke hotel
‘sound’, selecting certain types of music
for different spaces and times of day,
hiring resident DJs, or providing TVs,
radios or record players for in-room
entertainment, music has the potential
to play an important role in creating
that something special for guests.
However, regardless if you’re a small
hotel playing music in the lobby or part of
a globally renowned chain with a strong
music brand, if you’re looking to play
recorded music you need to make sure
you’re correctly licensed. Confused? No
need to be. Music licensing company PPL
can help you navigate your way through the
short process, especially if you’re a small
hotel or guesthouse owner getting to grips
with its newly revised tariff for the sector.

What tariff and why is it changing?
For more than 25 years, PPL has offered a
Small Residential Hotels and Guesthouses
tariff, which covers premises that have
a limited number of bedrooms and
facilities used by residents and bonafide
guests only. The tariff had not kept pace
with changes in legislation and so PPL
launched a consultation earlier this year
to discuss with small residential hotels
and guesthouses its proposal for a revised
tariff to cover playing background music
in public areas and the supply of music to
guest bedrooms. PPL listened to feedback
and has updated its tariff, having taken
into account the consultation responses.
The revised tariff will take effect from
1st January 2017.

A radio or TV in a guest bedroom means you are
providing recorded music, subject to a PPL licence