Businesses are being made aware of the importance of having a licence to play music on their premises by a not-for-profit music organisation which has been visiting the Island this week.

Karen Buse, director of international, and Keith Gilbert, director of public performance sales, at London-based PRS for Music, have been meeting with Government representatives, business leaders, broadcasters and key stakeholders to discuss copyright issues, including companies obtaining legal permission to play the music they want for their staff and customers on site.

PRS for Music is the appointed collection society for Bermuda and Ms Buse and Mr. Gilbert have been seeking to re-establish its presence and appoint a new agent here to offer its services Islandwide.

"We would like to really understand the market and the people and the best way of moving the business forward," said Mr. Gilbert.

The organisation, which represents 65,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers, ensures that the creators are paid royalties whenever their music is played, performed or reproduced through the use of copyright to protect and support the music industry in the UK and the other territories it serves.

In existence since 1914, PRS for Music provides businesses and community groups with easy access to more than 10 million songs via its music licences for use on everything from CD/MP3 player, radio and television to DJs and live bands.

Lifetime membership of the organisation costs £10, offering copyright protection worldwide and with the money going back to the creators of the music.

Mr. Gilbert said PRS for Music was keen to promote local music and culture and was looking to businesses and individuals in Bermuda to sign up as members in order to protect their rights to play music.

Ms Buse said they had been meeting with local musicians such as Shine Hayward and Gavin Smith, as well as the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, the Bermuda Small Business Development Corporation, Bermuda Broadcasting Company and Bermuda CableVision in a bid to drum up support and expand its membership base. She said PRS for Music was also keen to get involved on a local level by sponsoring music festivals and offering music scholarships in the future.

"We have been looking at re-establishing our presence here and how we can best help the music industry to flourish in Bermuda," she said.

According to research done by the organisation, 77 percent of staff feel more productive when good music is being played and 60 percent of shoppers would spend more time in a store if they hear music they like.

Covering 170 countries, PRS for Music also provides the benefit of data and comment on all aspects of the music industry including live, broadcast, sales, online, touring and music creation, as well as up-to-date analysis, research and trends.

For more information contact karen.buse@prsformusic.com or –keith.glibert@prsformusic.com">keith.glibert@prsformusic.com or visit the website at www.prsformusic.com/bermuda