Vodka Bar and Nightclub in Upper Brook Street, Winchester, banned from playing music until it brings its licences up to date

Zeus Corporation Ltd, proprietors of the city's Vodka Bar and Nightclub, in Upper Brook Street, faced the legal music at London's High Court.

And as a result one of the country's top judges banned them from playing any more recorded music there until they bring their licences up to date.

He also hit them with a legal costs bill of over £1,600.

Mr Justice Barling imposed the sounds of silence on the Winchester premises and any others run by Zeus after hearing they were caught playing recorded copyrighted music there when they didn't have a Phonographic Performance Ltd (PPL) licence.

In addition to the ban he also ordered the company, which was not represented in court, to pay £1,687 in legal costs run up by PPL pursuing them by 14 November.The ban means the company must stop playing recorded music at any premises it runs until it brings its licence up to date.

Failure to obey the order and turn any premises it runs into a music-free zone until all licence fees are brought up to date would be regarded as contempt of court, the penalties for which can be fines of up to £10,000 and up to six months prison for any individuals responsible.

The judge was told that a PPL inspector visited the premises in February and heard music being played when no licence was in force. The inspector heard tracks including 'Let Me Show You' by K-Klass.

PPL's counsel Ashton Chantrielle said that solicitors had sent letters to the premises informing the company of the nature and extent of PPL's repertoire and the fact that the playing in public of sound recordings without PPL's licence or permission constitutes infringement of its copyright, and inviting it to acquire a licence.

The ban applies to all forms of mechanically recorded music such as records, tapes and CDs in PPL's repertoire.

Depending on the size of a venue and the audiences involved music licences can cost very little but they can also run into hundreds or even thousands of pounds.Nazneen Nawaz, spokesperson for PPL, said: “PPL is the music licensing company which, on behalf of thousands of record company and performer members, licenses recorded music for broadcast, online and public performance use.

“Our 90,000 members include major record labels and independents as well as globally successful performers and session musicians, ranging from orchestral players to percussionists and singers.

"The majority are small businesses, all of whom are legally entitled to be fairly paid for the use of their recordings and performances.

“PPL issues licences to hundreds of thousands of businesses and organisations across the UK when they play recorded music to their staff or customers and therefore require a licence by law.

"Licensees include bars, nightclubs, shops, hotels, offices, factories, gyms, schools, universities and public sector organisations up and down the country.

“After the deduction of PPL's running costs, all licence fee income is distributed to members. PPL does not retain a profit for its services.”

Kalvin Collymore, co-owner of Vodka Bar and Nightclub, said: “That's news to me. I don't know what you're talking about.” He declined to comment further.