Youth clubs have been exempted from a proposed charge for playing music at parties
Music licensing authority PPL decides that buildings run on a not-for-profit basis won't have to pay 'specially featured entertainment tariff'
Community halls and youth clubs have been exempted from a proposed new charge for playing music at parties and social events.
The new charge, to be introduced by the music licensing authority PPL, is called a "specially featured entertainment tariff". It applies when sound recordings are played "in a more prominent manner than as background music", according to PPL.
A consultation document about the new charge says community halls and youth clubs were originally on a list of organisations that would have to pay.
It says they were removed from the list because, in response to a previous consultation, some respondents pointed out that these buildings tended to be run on a not-for-profit basis and were often used by charities.
A PPL spokeswoman issued a statement that said: "Following on from the original consultation, PPL took into account the feedback and suggestions received. The second consultation document incorporates that feedback."
The new tariff is separate from a charge that will come into effect from January 2012, under which charity shops and community groups will have to pay for licences to play background music.
Liz Cleverly, secretary to the Community Sector Law Monitoring Group, which examines legislation that affects community organisations, said she was pleased that the buildings had been exempted from paying the extra fee.
She said the CSLMG was still in talks with PPL over the level of charges to play background music.
She also said the group was seeking clarification on another aspect of the "specially featured entertainment tariff", which says the charge will apply to "venues hosting ad hoc events such as festivals, dance parties and similar events".
She said it was unclear whether this would apply to charities and community groups hosting such events. The PPL spokeswoman did not respond to a request for clarification of this.
