Lap-dancing club hit by music ban

The performers at a lap-dancing venue in Yorkshire could have to strip in silence after a judge imposed a music ban on the club, the Yorkshire Evening Post has reported.

Mr Justice Norris imposed the ban on Sarwinder Singh-Nangla, proprietor of the Buffalo Lounge, after a music inspector from Phonographic Performance Ltd (PPL) found the venue was playing copyrighted music without a licence.

The newspaper said Singh-Nangla faces the prospect of heavy fine or prison if he disobeys the order, which also applies to any other premises he runs. Singh-Nangla was neither present nor represented at the hearing.

The tracks being played at Buffalo Lounge when the inspector visited the site on 1 August 2009 included If There’s Any Justice, Your Body’s Callin’ and Wish I Didn’t Miss You.

Thomas St Quintin, counsel for PPL, said the organisation had sent letters to Singh-Nangla informing him of the rules and inviting him to obtain a licence. The estimated fee would have been £15,000.

A spokesman for PPL said: “PPL takes infringement of its members’ copyright very seriously and we will take the necessary action to protect our members’ rights.”