Schools Performance Licensing The Musicroom Guide to . . . Schools Performance Licensing
If you are planning to perform a musical play, pantomime or similar work (classified as ‘dramatico- musical works’) in your school, you may need a licence.
To help you, here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions.
My school wants to put on a pantomime or musical play for the children’s parents, relatives and friends. Do we need a licence?
Yes, if the work or any part of it is protected by copyright. In the UK, copyright protection of a musical work lasts throughout the life of the composer and for 70 years after that composer’s death. If the work is a collaboration, copyright continues until 70 years after the death of the last surviving person from that collaboration.
Why is there a licensing system? If an individual makes a living as a writer, we hope you will agree that he or she should be entitled to receive an income for doing so. One of the functions of copyright law is to protect the expression of an original idea and the writer contracts require us to ensure that any exploitation of a writer’s work is authorised. In this case, we issue a licence in return for payment of a performing fee, a share of which then goes to the writer.
Aren’t we already covered by our blanket licence from The Performing Rights Society Ltd (PRS)?
No, although wideranging, this licence does not cover performances of dramatico-musical works; you will need an additional licence.
Will we need to pay?
Yes, we will advise you of the performing fee before you submit your application.
We aren’t charging admission – do we still have to pay the performing fee? Yes, the same rules apply.
Can we make a video or DVD recording of our performance and make copies of that recording?
You will need an additional licence to do this, requiring payment of a further fee. We can advise you of the fees and provide the licence, but the copies can only be distributed to the children taking part, their parents, relatives and friends. The copies must not be further distributed, loaned or sold or otherwise made available to any third party.
We want to distribute the video or DVD recording to parents, but we don’t know how many will be interested. It is never easy to anticipate demand, so we will happily issue a licence allowing you to notify us later of how many copies you have produced.
Parents often want to film their child’s individual performance — what should we tell them?
Parents are welcome to film short extracts of the licensed performance for their personal viewing. We have no objection to this and we don’t charge a fee.
How do I apply for a licence? To request an application form, please send an email to:
performance.licence@
musicsales.co.uk
Or contact the Copyright Department on +44 (0) 20 7612 7400.
At Musicroom, we want to see works performed and enjoyed by as many schools and youth groups and their audiences as possible, and it is important to us that our licensing system, while protecting our writers, leaves works accessible.
If there is anything in the above details that you are unsure about, please do not hesitate to contact us.
The Copyright Department Music Sales Limited Newmarket Road Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP33 3YB United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 7612 7400 Fax: +44 (0)1284 768301 Email:
copyright@musicsales.co.uk
Please Note: The above information applies only to works published by the Music Sales Group. For other publishers’ works please contact the publisher concerned for information on licensing.
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