Outrage over digital licence that makes DJs ‘pay for songs twice’

Published Tuesday 29 November 2005 at 10:20 by Nuala Calvi

DJ groups have clashed with music rights agency Phonographic Performance Limited over its introduction of a new digital licence which they claim is forcing DJs to pay record companies twice over for using the same songs.

PPL says it has introduced the digital DJ licence, costing £200, to allow entertainers to copy sound recordings onto a computer legally for use when DJ-ing in clubs, pubs and other venues. The licence will also limit performers to a collection of 20,000 tracks.

However, the National Association of Disc Jockeys and the South Eastern Discotheque Association say members already pay PPL for the right to play songs to an audience through its public performance licence and pay the record companies when they purchase a CD or music download.

NADJ member Robbie Earl told The Stage: “We’re still playing the same music to the same people. Okay, we’re using a computer rather than carrying around thousands of CDs but I’m playing the same tunes to the same audience. Why have I got to pay the record companies when I’ve still got to buy the original CD or buy the track online?

“The only difference is that before there was no limit to the number of CDs I could bring with me, but under this I’m limited to 20,000 tracks.”

The subject has been discussed at heated meetings between DJ groups and Mastermix, the company administering the new licences on behalf of PPL. The NADJ has also set up a committee to lobby on the issue.

A PPL spokeswoman said: “This is a new licence for people who are copying digital files onto a hard disk, which is not covered in our public performance licence. We’ve actually done this to enable DJs to move forward with technology in a legal way.”