Hotels could hike prices over €2.6m music royalties bill

Irish hotels could be set to increase prices to cover an estimated €2.6m bill after the High Court said the facilities, guest houses and B&Bs must start paying royalties for any copy-righted music in guest bedrooms.

The music charges will be set by Phonographic Performance Ireland Ltd (PPI), which collects royalties for recording artists and then transfers the money on to the artists involved, after a court agreement with the State yesterday.

When PPI started the case in 2010, the firm said it was seeking about €1 per bedroom per week — the equivalent of 14c a night.