North West charities could face increased costs if a planned proposal made by Lord Mandelson goes ahead.

From April next year, charities and community groups are set to lose their exemption from the requirement to hold a PPL Performance Rights Licence in order to play recorded music on their premises.

Currently clubs, societies or other organisations that are not established or conducted for profit whose main objects are charitable or are otherwise concerned are exempted from needing the licence by virtue of sections 67 and 72 of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Meaning charities across the UK could be facing additional costs for holding events with recorded music. However, the National Council for Voluntary Organisations is running a ‘Don’t Stop the Music’ campaign to help prevent the proposal from being ratified.

The effect of this will probably not be felt at the large charitable organisations such as Oxfam, but will certainly have a detrimental impact upon community-based local charities, especially in the North West.

It is important to remember that musicians require fair reward for their hard work in order to encourage continued creativity, although many small charities will argue that this is already covered by the payment of the PRS Music Licence. However, it would seem that the cost of this proposal would outweigh the real benefit to the music industry.