Organisers of Burnham-On-Sea’s annual carnival say local charities will miss out on almost £1,300 of funding after a huge bill for musical royalty payments was received this week.
Members of the Highbridge and Burnham Carnival Association met on Wednesday (September 9th), having received the bill for almost £1,300 from the Performing Rights Society and PPL, a music licensing company which oversees recorded music for public use.
Carnival organisers now need a licence to play music at the event, which will be held on November 9th this year.
Jan Paul, Burnham Carnival Association’s Secretary, told Burnham-On-Sea.com on Wednesday evening: “We first started paying for music royalties last year, but we were exempt from the PPL payment, so had to find just £240.”
“This year, the situation has changed and we’ve received a huge bill for almost £1,300 which has come just a few weeks before the carnival.”
“It’s come very late and the money will have to be found from our funds, which are already under pressure due to falling donations and the rising costs of putting on the event.”
“The Performing Rights Society has given us a 50 per cent discount in return for an advert in the carnival programme, but the amount being asked is still significant.”
Phil New, Vice Chairman of Burnham Carnival Association, added: “It annoys me that almost £1,300 which would have been gone to local causes is now having to be sent to wealthy international musicians instead. We want carnival to help our local community.”
Organisers of Burnham’s carnival spoke at their May AGM of the group’s “financial struggles” as the costs of holding the event continue to rise. The association has also appealed for new marshalls, judges and street collectors to come forward to help November’s event.
Pictured above are members of Burnham-On-Sea’s Carnival Committee after their recent AGM and, top, one of the floats at the 2008 carnival
RELATED LINKS:
2009 Burnham-On-Sea Carnival Guide
