Music was banned at a Brynaman restaurant recently by order of the High Court - and the proprietor hit with a £4,200 legal costs bill.

The ban followed visits by Performing Right Society (PRS) inspector to the Derlwyn Arms at 118 Mountain Road, Upper Brynaman where PRS copyrighted music was heard being played at a time when no PRS licence had been issued in respect of the premises.

Proprietor, Lisa Johnson, was banned by one of the country ‘s top judges from playing music at the Derlwyn Arms or any other premises she runs until she brings the PRS licences up to date.

The pay-up or shut-up order was imposed by Mr Justice Zacaroli after he was told that a PRS inspector visited the premises and heard copyrighted music being played on April 21 and November 30last year.

The tracks heard included, Dear Darlin, Come Together, Sit Down, I Want To Break Free, Get Ready, I Saw Her Standing There, You Really Got Me, Come Back To Me, Uptown Funk and All Right Now.

The judge granted an injunction banning Ms Johnson from infringing the copyright of the PRS and at the same time hit her with an order to pay the legal costs run up by PRS in taking the matter to court.

Failure by Ms Johnson to obey the order and turn any premises she runs into a music-free zone until all licence fees were brought up to date would have been regarded as contempt of court, the penalties for which can be fines of up to £10,000 and up to six month’s prison.

The PRS is a non-profit making organisation which collects licence fees for public performances of music and then distributes the cash among composers and music publishers.

It represents the only practical way copyright fees can be collected for public performances