Hotels face €1 a week music bill per room

The country’s 5,000-plus hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs may have to fork out about €3.8m a year to the music industry for providing a radio, television or CD player in guest rooms.

A court ruling could also see the State pay royalties for each prison cell with a TV or radio. However, dentists, who are charged €76.83, would be exempt as practitioners “do not make a profit” playing background music in waiting rooms.

A European Court decision yesterday was described as “outrageous” by hoteliers, who can expect to pay €1 per room per week to Phonographic Performance Ireland (PPI).