‘CITCO hotels cannot play PPL music’

The Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) has said no hotel under the Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Development Corporation (CITCO) can play its music on New Year’s eve,according to an order passed by a district court. In a statement issued on Thursday,PPL said a notice had been issued to CITCO as it had used PPL’s music without licence during the Chandigarh Carnival last month. Hotels falling under the defaulting governing bodies cannot play music for any public event till January 25,2011.

Vipul Pradhan,CEO of PPL said: “New Year parties attract people,promising them a good time through a combination of entertainment,food and beverage. A significant component of the sum charged from the customers is for music. Therefore,the music companies whose sound recording is used have a right to claim their due because their product is getting consumed.” CITCO officials,meanwhile,claimed that they had deposited the requisite amount in court in the form of cheque drawn in favour of PPL for both Mountview and Shivalikview hotels. “CITCO can play music at its hotels,” said an official.