Charities and community groups were left outraged today by the decision of PPL and PRS for Music to effectively ban them from playing music at fundraising events, discos or even village hall tea dances, without paying a royalty charge.

A new system of charging will now make it impossible for small local groups to play music because they simply can’t afford it, even when it is just Scouts or Guides having a Friday evening disco or older people having a Sunday afternoon tea dance, says the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO).

Stuart Etherington, chief executive of NCVO, said: “It is shameful that money intended for charitable causes will go on paying royalties for playing music. Events like these often raise no more than a few hundred pounds but this is vital income for charities.

"This scheme will make it impossible for small community based charities or organisations to play music at their social and fundraising events because of the cost involved. It will effectively spell the death of the charity tea dance in a village hall or a fundraising disco in aid of a good cause.”

“We call on PPL and PRS for Music to review this decision and not charge organisations who are fundraising for the good of their community.“