Response to potential changes to Live365 licensing arrangements in the UK

Earlier this month, we were informed by our broadcast provider Live365 about potential changes to licensing arrangements in the UK. The current system covers broadcasts in the UK, US, Canada and Mexico over one package and allows us and other Live365 stations to legally broadcast copyrighted content to listeners in these countries, provided the copyright holder has their content registered to their respective music licensing authorities. Throughout the past 3 years of broadcasting, this has given us reassurance that we can provide the high quality service our listeners expect without the burden of costly and time-consuming legal processes. We were concerned, therefore, to hear of problems in Live365's negotiations with PPL, the music licensing authority here in the UK.

We'd like to thank Live365 for the open and transparent way in which they've dealt with this situation. We appreciate their clarity and the opportunity to have our say on the matter. As a UK based broadcaster, we naturally strive to include British artists as much as possible on our station. Any changes to PPL's deal with Live365 could seriously affect this goal. Most of our listeners are from the UK too, so we'd like any future deal to consider the impact on our listeners. We eagerly await the final decision, but until then we will continue to deliver our service to listeners here in the UK and around the world and we will strive that, regardless of the final outcome, our listeners will continue to be at the front and centre of everything we do.