Melvin Benn, who runs the Reading, Leeds and Latitude festivals, described it as "blatant money-grabbing". He told BBC News, "The quantum leap in what the PRS are being paid by live music promoters is very, very substantial compared to what it was 10 years ago. Live music is so much stronger than it was, and therefore the receipts the PRS are getting are substantially more than they were. Instead of being pleased with that and wanting to work with us, they want to punish us and just take more. The reality is that will only result in additional costs to the ticket-buyer and that's killing the goose that laid the golden egg."
PRS For Music's Debbie Mulloy said: "It's been over 20 years since we last reviewed this tariff and it's part of a general review of all our tariffs. This is one sector where there have been massive amounts of change and we felt a good review was required to make sure everything was still fair and reasonable."
In Memoriam - Patti Smith led a brief ceremony to commemorate the 10th anniversary of a fatal crush at the Roskilde music festival. Nine people died and 43 were injured during a performance by Pearl Jam at the Danish rock festival in 2000. An inquiry found "a chain of unfortunate circumstances" caused fans to surge towards the stage.
Smith threw nine roses on the audience after the victims' names were read out at the start of the four-day event. Nine trees have also been planted near the site in memory of the victims and as a reminder to festival-goers and staff to be careful while they enjoy the music on stage.
On Air - The BBC Trust has rejected the BBC's plans to close the digital radio station 6 Music. In his initial response to the BBC strategy review, BBC Trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons said that the case for the closure of 6 Music had not been made. He said the Trust - which represents the interests of licence fee payers - would consider closing 6 Music only as part of a wider strategy on the future of digital radio. But the Trust accepted plans to close the Asian Network, cut 25% of the online budget and close teen service Blast!
(Jim Evans)
