If your staff or customers are listening to music on your premises, played by any means from live performance, through to radio, TV, CD, or via the internet, you need a Performing Right Society Music Licence.

When a song or piece of music is written, the person who wrote it owns the copyright and therefore has the right to decide how and when it should be played.  Accordingly, Section 9 of the Copyright Act, 1998 of The Bahamas stipulates, amongst other things, that the owner of copyright in musical works shall have the exclusive right to authorise the public performance of such works (“the performing right”).  PRS was set up in 1914 by songwriters, composers and music publishers to manage these rights on their behalf, which means a PRS Music Licence grants you the legal permission to use that copyright music.  We also have agreements in place with societies from all over the world, allowing us to collect royalties on each other’s behalf.  Therefore no matter what country the music played in your business originated from, a PRS Licence is needed.

The money collected from PRS Music Licences is distributed to the writers and composers, which is essential in supporting them whilst they are creating more music.  So by buying a PRS licencs you not only ensure you have the necessary permission to play music on your premises, you are also supporting our members and joining them in creating a future for music.

Enclosed is an information leaflet “Are you listening?” and you can also visit our web site www.prsformusic.com - I invite you to contact me to Licence your premises.

Annabel Cole
PRS Bahamas Agent
prsbah@batelnet.bs