THE owners of a Worcester bar were banned from playing music by a High Court judge after they failed to apply for the correct licence.

Mr Justice Birss imposed the ban on JJPB Limited and John Paul Batterton, the proprietors of Keystones cocktail bar at the High Court in London on May 16.

The ban was issued to serve as a warning to the city's pubs, clubs and bars where music is played publicly, to get their music licences in order.

The court heard that an inspector from music royalties collectors Phonographic Performance Ltd (PPL) heard the tracks XO by Beyonce, and Everyday by Ariana Grande being played at the venue, in Copenhagen Street, on Saturday, October 29, last year.

Lawyers representing PPL told the judge that letters were sent to the premises informing them 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.

The ban applies to all forms of mechanically recorded music such as records, tapes and CDs.

After hearing the case Mr Justice Birss imposed the ban on JJPB Limited and John Paul Batterton, and they were also ordered to pay PPL's legal costs of £2,085.

The High Court judge also warned them failure to obey the order and turn any premises they run into a music-free zone, until all licence fees are brought up to date, would be regarded as contempt of court.

If brought in front of the court again, the penalty for this could attract a fine of up to £10,000, and up to six months prison.

The ban lasts until the pair are granted the correct licence.

Yesterday it was unclear if the licence has since been purchased.

Mr Batterton said the matter had been a 'misunderstanding' but declined to comment further.

On Thursday, the bar, which opened in 2013, was displaying on its website the message: "We opened The Keystones Cocktail Club in 2013 - a place where you can dance on the tables whilst singing to ACDC."

Christine Geissmar, operations director of PPL, said: “There is an intrinsic value that recorded music adds to businesses, and this judgement acknowledges that the performers of the music and record companies should be fairly rewarded.

“Businesses that choose to play recorded music without a licence may face legal action and financial and other consequences as a result.

"Legal action is only ever sought as a last resort where a business continues to play music following repeated attempts from PPL to get the correct licensing in place.

"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 PPL’s record company and performer members.

"The majority are small businesses, all of whom are legally entitled to be fairly paid for the use of their recordings and performances. PPL does not retain a profit for its services.”