The Island’s two major pub chains – one also runs the Checkers supermarkets – may be hit by an almost 500% rise in the cost of a licence to play background music.
It means that the sound of silence may become top of the shops if the plug is pulled on canned music.
The increases being sought by Phonographic Performances Ltd, which claims to represent 30,000 performers and 14,000 record labels, are scheduled for 2006.
But they need government approval before the higher charges can be introduced.
At the moment a large pub pays around £214 a year.
That will go up to around £1,000 if the increase is approved.
It means that a pub like Chambers will pay around £700 compared with about £160 now.
Chambers is owned by Randalls Vautier, which has 60 pubs in the Island.
Managing director David Le Quesne was appalled at the news – although quite pleased on a personal level.
‘We’ll have to look at it very closely and make a decision about whether we continue with music,’ he said.
‘Personally, I like a bit of peace and quiet when I’m having a pint – but a lot of our customers probably enjoy the music.’
