Major Promoter Banned From Promoting Live Events
Promoter Vince Power has been effectively banned from staging live events after London's High Court found that the promoter had been producing events without a license. Performing Rights Society for Music (PRS) brought legal action against Power, claiming that Hop Farm did not have copyright for the live music played at the festival from 2009 to 2012. Court documents filed by PRS claim that 31 PRS members performed at the 2009 festival; at least 10 in 2010, at least 27 in 2011 and at least 31 in 2012.
Power failed to file a defense in the case and a the judge issued a summary judgment against him, preventing the staging of additional live events until his licenses are in order and tacking on £7,987 in legal fees accrued by PRS.
A spokesperson from PRS for Music told the BBC: "A licence is required for any event except a family or domestic gathering, such as a wedding reception or birthday party."
Power, who founded Mean Fiddler, has been a key figure in the history of festivals such as Reading, Leeds and most recently, the Hop Farm Music Festival. His most recent venture, Vince Power Music Group, went into administration and liquidation in 2012. Power also claims that the Hop Farm music festival was co-opted by another promoter in 2013 and that he had nothing to do with the event. The 2013 edition of Hop Farm was canceled in the face of poor ticket sales.
Power released a statement about the matter on Hop Farm's Facebook page, denying ever being informed of the matter by PRS and pointing out that any claims should have been handled by the administrator for Music Festivals PLC.
"I am angry and disappointed that PRS have not contacted me by post, email or telephone.To say that I am banned from staging live music events for the sake of 7k, is damaging to my career," says Power. "In light of the long strained relationship I have with them, I can only see this as PRS being vindictive and a means of deflection for what I see as the real problem within PRS. They have a long list of artists that are owed money which they do not pay. I am very happy for any artists who have been chasing PRS unsuccessfully to contact me to see if there is a way we can group together and get the money they are owed." – via Celebrity Access
