From the BBC..

Concert and festival promoters have warned that ticket prices could go up as songwriters consider requesting a greater share of live music takings.

Currently, 3% of all gig ticket money goes to PRS For Music, which passes it on to writers and composers.

It is reviewing that rate, saying it needs to ensure a "fair balance" between music fans and creators.

Melvin Benn, who runs the Reading, Leeds and Latitude festivals, described it as "blatant money-grabbing".

With VAT also rising by 2.5%, Mr Benn, who runs Festival Republic, said the cost of an average festival ticket would go up by about £10.

Songwriters are already benefiting from the live music scene because attendances and ticket prices have gone up so much in recent years, he argued.

UK fans spent £1.45bn on gigs and festivals in 2009, compared with less than £1bn in 2004.

"The quantum leap in what the PRS are being paid by live music promoters is very, very substantial compared to what it was 10 years ago," Mr Benn told BBC News.

"Live music is so much stronger than it was, and therefore the receipts the PRS are getting are substantially more than they were.

"Instead of being pleased with that and wanting to work with us, they want to punish us and just take more. The reality is that will only result in additional costs to the ticket-buyer and that's killing the goose that laid the golden egg."

PRS For Music has opened a consultation on the fee, which was last set in 1988, and has not revealed its preferred rate for the future.

It may introduce tiered rates, with bigger events paying more. It may also introduce a different fee for mixed arts festivals, where music is just one of many attractions.

Stuart Littlewood, chairman of the Concert Promoters Association, said: "We don't yet know what they're asking for but any increase would be most unwelcome.

"At the end of the day, it's the public who would be paying because the promoters would have to pass the increase on to the public.

"We're already going to have to pass the VAT increase on. So tickets next year are going to be more expensive than they are this year because of these unnecessary increases."
'Success story'

PRS For Music's Jeremy Fabinyi said: "It is right that we continually review our charges and approach, ensuring there is a fair balance between music users and creators.

"We all know the live industry has thrived and is a huge success story in the UK and globally. The world we all operate in now is a far removed one from that of 1988.

"We need to ensure that the right licensing approaches are in place to ensure the future success of live music in the UK."

Personally I'd like to see a cap on the booking fees that a firm can charge, especially if you book more than one gig at a time like I've done on occasion.