COVID19 information for businesses in Malta
COVID-19 information for businesses in Malta
We understand the pressure the current COVID-19 pandemic is putting on businesses across Malta and Gozo. We wish to reassure you that we are here to support you during this time. We have introduced some measure to help:
- We will not be charging licensees for the music usage during the period that your establishment is closed (temporarily or permanently) due to COVID-19
- We have introduced further flexibility to our payment policies, including deferred payments and payment plans for licensees during this difficult period
More detail on these temporary measures is set out in the FAQs below. To discuss your options including potentially deferring your payments or extending your Direct Debit please call us on +356 21232010 or +356 79794300. If you have any queries about the effect of COVID-19 on your music licence that are not answered below, you can also send us an email on malta@prsformusic.com
Please be assured that we shall strive to answer all your questions as quickly as possible.
We would also like to thank all those licensees who are continuing to take out, pay for and renew their music licence. The royalties you pay are a vital source of income for performers, songwriters and other music creators. Many of them are self-employed, sole traders or small businesses who – through the cancellation of live events, closure of music retailers and disruption to recording activities – are also being adversely impacted in these difficult times.
My music licence review is due now or coming up soon
We have temporarily suspended outbound contact, to all licensees in affected sectors about their music licence reviews, tentatively till 30th April 2020. We will assess the Government advice relating to COVID-19 at that date and act accordingly depending on the revised measures being introduced by the Government.
If you still want to proceed with the music licence review process as normal, you can of course do so and we would ask you to contact us to do this. Changes in your music usage, as a result of COVID-19, will of course be taken into account at this point.
If you wish to delay your music licence review process at this time, due to the current COVID-19 situation, we completely understand that this may not be a priority for you. We will contact you after 30 April 2020 or later, dependent on further Government advice. Pending your music licence review, you will still be able to legally play and perform music in accordance with the terms and conditions of your music licence.
My business is temporarily closed due to the Government guidance on COVID-19. How can I ensure I don’t pay fees for music use during the period it is closed?
Currently we do not know how long businesses will be closed for. We can confirm that licensees will not be charged for the period that your business is closed as a result of you following the Government’s guidance on COVID-19.
If you have already paid your latest invoice, when your music licence is due for its next review, we will discuss the impact of COVID-19 on your music usage and amend your account to credit or refund you for the period that your business was closed.
If you have not yet paid your latest invoice, please contact us to discuss the options available to you on +356 21232010. We can discuss the impact of COVID-19 on your music usage, and take this into account.
Are flexible payment options available during this time to help me pay for my music licence?
We already have a range of different options available to music users based on your circumstances, including the introduction of a payment plan suited to your needs.
In response to the current situation, we have extended the number of payments that can be agreed in a plan, to help businesses spread the cost more easily. Alternatively, we can offer a deferred payment plan. Please contact us on +356 21232010 to discuss how we can help.
I have just taken out a music licence but have not made the payment yet. Do I still have to pay?
If you have recently taken out your music licence, this will remain in place for your business, subject to our standard terms and conditions. We can offer a range of different payment options based on your circumstances; please contact us on +356 21232010 to discuss how we can help. If your business is currently closed as a result of following the Government’s guidance on COVID-19, we will also discuss the impact of COVID-19 on your music usage and how we will take this into account.
My business is permanently closing due to COVID-19. Can I have a refund on my music licence?
We are sorry to hear that your business is closing due to the impact of COVID-19. Please contact us to apply for a pro rata refund of the unexpired period of your music licence from the date that your business permanently closed. Please be aware, this is only offered on a temporary basis during this period for businesses closing permanently due to COVID-19. Our standard Cancellation Policy will be applicable once normal business operations resume and we will update this guidance in due course to notify customers of this.
