Shrewsbury people organising charity fundraising events like discos and tea dances could soon be landed with extra bills and red tape if they want to play music.
The plug has already been pulled on background music at many charity shops.
And it is feared that volunteers will simply cancel fundraising events at venues like village halls and youth clubs because they do not want the hassle.
The controversy is over Government plans which would see charities and not-for-profit organisations lose their exemption from music licensing charges next April.
They already have to pay a fee to the Performing Rights Society but will now face a second bill from Phonographic Performance Ltd – starting at 14p a day.
Critics claim it will cost charities £20 million a year nationally and £1.5 million in the West Midlands.
Charity volunteer Judith Williams, who organises several fundraising events every year, said: “Small charities are already desperately short of money and struggling for survival in the credit crunch.
“The Government has already taken everyone’s money – and now it’s trying to screw the charities. And who will have the huge task of administering this?”
Treated fairly
Shrewsbury mayor Alan Townsend said he could understand the music industry trying to ensure performers got the money they deserved, but he called for small charities to be treated fairly.
“They do an excellent job on shrinking budgets and it would be a shame if they lost their exemption,” he said.
Janet Wenlock, from the Save the Children shop on Wyle Cop, said: “We’ve already had an instruction from our head office to stop playing background music and many other charity shops have been told the same. It seems very petty. Music relaxes customers and staff and creates a nice ambience.”
Liz Atkins, head of public policy at the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), is leading a national campaign against the changes.
She said: “This is a shameful way to treat voluntary organisations that help some of the most disadvantaged people in our society.”
So far, 80 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion calling for charities to remain exempt and warning of the ‘devastating impact on local tea dances, youth clubs, coffee mornings and charity shops’.
By Peter Johnson