Cox stands up for Charities on Music Charges
26th March 2010
Geoffrey Cox has criticised Government plans for proposed new charges for voluntary organisations and tabled a parliamentary question pressing it to abandon them.
Geoffrey Cox, MP for Torridge and West Devon, has criticised Government plans for proposed new charges for voluntary organisations and tabled a parliamentary question pressing it to abandon them.
Hundreds of voluntary groups across Torridge and West Devon, including scores of tiny grassroots organisations, will be burdened with the proposed extra fee if they wish to continue playing music and may have to withdraw some services unless a solution is found.
While charities and not-for-profit organisations have always had to pay licensing body PRS for Music, which collects royalties on behalf of music writers, composers and publishers, the Government has now proposed they should also pay a fee to PPL, which collects royalties on behalf of performers and record companies.
The charge, which applies to a wide range of events such as fundraising discos, tea dances, community drop-in sessions and coffee mornings or where it is used in charity shops to create a more cheerful atmosphere for shoppers and volunteers, is due to come into force on 1 April.
The MP is supporting a national campaign called Don't Stop the Music, run by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations.
NCVO is involved in negotiations with PPL, PRS for Music and the government to ensure small organisations in particular are not discouraged from carrying out activities with music and that the process is simple and easy to understand for charities.
However, PPL recently announced it would not make any concessions to the voluntary sector. NCVO is campaigning for an exemption for the smallest, grassroots charities as a minimum. As it stands, organisations may have to pay a minimum fee of £80 per building.
Geoffrey Cox said, "I am concerned about the impact this will have on the voluntary and community sector. There is a fear that many organisations may simply cancel much needed fundraising events. Any solution should ensure that smaller organisations are not discouraged from pursuing activities involving recorded music."
"There are dozens of voluntary and community groups throughout Torridge and West Devon that already run on very tight budgets and will wonder how they will afford to pay this extra fee. These organisations are often carrying out vital work in helping very disadvantaged people and should be treated differently to commercial organisations."
