Performing of copyrighted music

[Sherif]

I need details on copyright laws regarding the performing of copyrighted music. Will I need to gain permission from the artists/bands?

[CopyrightAid]

The public performance or broadcast of a musical work requires a license from the PRS, for details you should see http://www.prs.co.uk/

Licenses are normally applied for by the venue, not individuals.
i.e. if a venue has live acts, I would expect the venue to have a performance license, not the musicians.

[les25]

This is confusing because I've heard different opinions on this. Some say that it's the venue's responsibility to get permission for live bands to perform cover versions - others that it's the band's responsibility even if the venue has a licence. In this case I'm talking about unsigned bands performing in pubs. Is there a definitive answer on this?

[CopyrightAid]

Certainly in my experience it is normally the venue that the license is purchased for.
For definitive facts, the PRS would be best people to talk to on this one. Certainly the matter of music in pubs is dealt with at their page http://www.mcps-prs-alliance.co.uk/playingbroadcastingonline/music_for_businesses/PB/Pages/pubsandbars.aspx
and the current fees the venue owners should pay are shown at http://www.mcps-prs-alliance.co.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/PPS%20Price%20Guides/PubsandBars_Priceguide0501.pdf

I'm sure it is possible for individual bands/artists to get their own licenses - it's just not as common. In the past I have heard of keep fit/aerobics companies / sole traders being licensed (where they use music in the exercises etc) - in that case the aerobics company had the license, not the venue - I think it probably comes down to who is 'putting on' the event.

In the case of bands playing in pubs, it is normally the pub that is licensed, in fact even if they only have a jukebox or background music they should already have a license, (it's just they may need to pay a bit extra for live music).
When I was in a band in the '90s, we played loads of pubs and clubs and never needed a license ourselves, because the venues regularly had live bands and were therefore already licensed.
To be frank, if the venue has not got a license, I can't imagine that it's much of a venue.

[legacy2008]

However, be careful if the source of the performance music is a digital version, eg installed on a laptop from a CD - see in particular http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4609378.stm