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THE owners of a popular guest house are furious at receiving a £300 bill for playing music to their lodgers – cats.
THE owners of a popular guest house are furious at receiving a 300 bill for playing music to their lodgers – cats.Stunned Mel and Maggie Boustead could not believe it when they were told that playing the radio at their cattery to keep feline guests happy with soothing music was an infringement of copyright.
Now the Performing Rights Society (PRS), which protects the copyright of songwriters and performers, has told the owners of Follybridge Kennels and Cattery, in Thorney Road, Peakirk, near Peterborough, that they owe fees for the past two years.
Today, Maggie said she feared that music-loving moggies such as Charlie, Tiny and Daisy, were missing their favourite tunes as the radio has now been turned off.
She explained: "We set up this business 11 years ago, and go to great lengths to try and make our visitors' stay as comfortable as possible. We have always played music to our cats.
Top five tunes for cats
Cool For Cats by Squeeze
Purrfect by Fairground Attraction
What's New Pussycat by Tom Jones
Year of the Cat by Al Stewart
I Feel(ine) Fine by The Beatles
And anything by Cat Stevens, Atomic Kitten, the Pussycat Dolls and Tabby Wynette.
Their favourite West End musical is of course... Cats
Do you have any more suggestions? comment below or email eteditor @peterboroughtoday.co.uk
"While we can take our dogs for a walk, the cats are confined to an indoor space, something they are not used to when they are at home, and the radio just keeps them entertained.
"One example of how it works was the other night, one of the dogs kept howling and barking, but as soon as we put the radio on, he calmed down and went to sleep.
"It can just be very soothing for the animals, they love it."
Now the 19 pampered pets, who particularly love Radio 2, are having to miss out on breakfast with Wogan and chilling out with Steve Wright in the afternoon while they are on holiday with Mel and Maggie. The sound of silence just isn't the same.
But Mel said: "It is outrageous that they want us to pay for a licence so animals can listen to the radio. We won't pay it. Instead the cats will have to go without.
"We have been told we can have it on during 'out of office hours', but the cats don't want it on when they are trying to sleep."
However, there could be hope that the cats can get back in the groove after The Evening Telegraph contacted the PRS to tell them how the felines feel about the ban.
A spokeswoman said: "If the music is predominantly for the cats, then a licence is not required, and we would not charge these people for a radio licence.
"PRS will investigate this case to ensure that the customer has not been incorrectly assessed, and if a mistake has been made, we will apologise."
However, she added: "If it is a premises where the radio is audible to staff and visitors, however, a licence may be required. The cost for this licence will depend on the size of the premises."
Meanwhile, Mel said the cats may have to form their own choir if they want some music.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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