RADIOS PLAYED IN HOTELS

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27397, 9 July 1954, Page 6

RADIOS PLAYED IN HOTELS

PERFORMING RIGHTS CHARGED BRITISH PUBLICAN’S COMPLAINT (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, July 7. Many private hotels and boardinghouses at British seaside resorts are removing radio and television sets from public rooms after the experience of Mr William Gallon, a hotel proprietor at Cliftonville, Kent, says the “Daily Mail.” In 1947 a Mr Fred Hart of the Performing Rights Society called to claim a fee for songwriters and lyric writers whose works, broadcast by the 8.8. C., were heard by his guests in the hotel lounge. “I told him,” said Mr Gallon, “that small hotelkeepers were not going to work their fingers to the bone to keep the likes of him, and offered to kick him down the steps if he didn’t go. He went”

Last Whitsun, a Mr Hart booked by telephone for three days’ stay at the hotel. He was not recognised as the Mr Hart of 1947. He spent much time looking at television and listening to the wireless.

When he paid the bill he presented his business card and told Mr Gallon: “You will be hearing from my society.” Mr Gallon said: “I told him I thought it was a dastardly thing. I reminded him that he bad been a guest and was made most welcome. I accused him of behaving like a spy.” Next came a demand for £47 from the Performing Rights Society. They listed all the tunes played on radio and television and by the band during Mr Hart’s week-end stay. “He must have been taking notes every time,” said Mr Gallon. “They backdated the claim to 1947 at £5 a year. “I have paid £l6 and I am waiting to be sued for the rest,” said Mr Gallon.

Mr E. Ford, licensing manager of the Performing Rights Society, said: “Any hotelkeeper, boardinghousekeeper, publican or occupier of public premises, who allows the radio to be played or television be shown except for his own personal entertainment is liable to pay a fee to us. “About 5500 public premises pay us about £540,000 annually in Britain. Others do not. That is why we have to have our own inspectors going round the country.”