Music for Yoga ClassesMusic is the seasoning that adds extra flavour to Dru Yoga…it enlivens activations, sets the mood for EBRs and asanas and calms the room for relaxation. It is one of the many small things that together make Dru a special experience for students in your class.It seems easy.....play CDs or plug your iPod into a dock and soothing strains float onto the airwaves. If you want to have access to beautiful music and avoid legal issues, you need to look into licences to play music. There are two organisations that issue licences and pay royalties to different beneficiaries. What licences do I need and who do I talk to?The Performing Rights Society (PRS) exists to protect the rights of music writers/composers and this means that to play copyright music you need a licence from the PRS. The responsibility for obtaining a licence rests with the venue where you are teaching, so if you teach at a venue such as a community centre that runs other classes or a gym or leisure centre then you simply need to ask to be included in their licence. To teach at venues that have no music licence you may need to obtain a mobile licence. If you have your own yoga studio then obtaining a licence is a must, unless you use only non copyright music. For further advice and up to date info go to: www.prsformusic.com or call 0845 309 3090. PPL (Phonographic Performance Licence) distribute royalties to record companies and performers. The responsibility to obtain a licence rests with the individual. PPL have varying fees depending on the number of classes you have per year. Call 020 7534 1070 for further information or check www.ppluk.com. Are there any other options?You can minimise the costs of obtaining licences by using only music that is not subject to copyright. Generally music composed over 70 years ago is not subject to copyright. At the moment, music CDs produced by Dru (UK) are not registered with either PPL or PRS so if you play this or other non-copyright yoga music you have no licensing obligations. |  | |