Corner shop worker told to stop singing in her store or pay for a performing licence

Music police have told a grandmother to stop singing behind the counter of the corner shop where she works - or pay for a licence. Sandra Burt began serenading customers at the A & T Food Store in Clackmannan, near Stirling, after the owners were contacted by The Performing Right Society and told they would have to pay an £80 annual fee to keep the radio on in the shop.

They decided not to bother and now 56-year-old Sandra sings tracks 'from anyone from The Noisettes, to the Rolling Stones' as she stocks the shelves and weighs customers' purchases. Now, however, the PRS, which collects royalties on behalf of music industry bosses and artists, has told her that her 'spontaneous outbursts of joy' constitute live public performance, and she could have to pay annual fees of 'four figures'.

Gareth Kelly, music sales advisor for PRS, said that Mrs Burt was getting up to 'mischief' to get round the radio licence fee. He said: 'Using any copyright material in your store, without paying for it, is illegal.



'It doesn't matter whether you're singing a Robbie Williams track, or listening to a Robbie Williams track, you still have to pay for it. She could be fined for not having a live performance licence, and if the fine isn't paid, then she could potentially be taken to court.' The PRS said that Mrs Burt could be judged to be giving daily performances, which would require individual daily licences, taking the annual cost up to 'four figures'.

Mrs Burt, a Rolling Stones fan, said she was shocked by the attitude of the PRS. She said: 'I come from a very musical family. My husband is a drummer in a pipe band, and even my two-and-a-half year old grand-daughter is always singing. I sing all the time, and I often don't even know I'm doing it. It's just a spontaneous, happy thing.

'They'd have to put tape over my mouth to stop me singing these songs. Even if they threatened to take me to court, I don't think I could stop singing. I'm just a naturally happy person. Nobody that comes in the store complains about me singing. I love singing and think it's cruel that PRS would try and stop me from doing it.'