Spanish Oddities
Spanish performing rights organisation charges hairdresser for playing the radio
By m.p. - Nov 8, 2009 - 11:56 AM
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SGAE headquarters - www.20minutos.es
The hairdresser in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat has been told he must pay up to have music on while he cuts hair
Spain’s performing rights organisation, the SGAE, has been in the news again for demanding copyright payments. This time, it is a Barcelona hairdresser who has been affected, who was told after a visit by an SGAE inspector that he must pay a monthly fee if he wants the radio on in the background while he is cutting his clients’ hair.
Esteban Criado told El Periodico de Catalunya that he at first thought it was a joke when a man identifying himself as an SGAE inspector gave him the news when he visited his premises in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat some weeks ago. But the confirmation came in the post in a registered letter from the organisation informing him that he could face legal action if he refuses to sign the contract and continues to play the radio.
He’s been told he must pay a monthly fee of between 6 and 12 € for music playing in the background, but can escape the fee if he tunes into a news station. The hairdresser says he’s decided to sign the contract when it arrives in order to avoid any problems.