96-year-old business pays its dues

Nandlal and Sons Ltd of 66 High Street, San Fernando, received COTT Hot Spott award for June at a ceremony on Friday. Nandlal received the award for its exceptional track record as a compliant licencee for the past 26 years, since the administration of rights by the UK-based PRS.

San Fernando Mayor Alderman Ian Atherly spoke glowingly of Nandlal’s history as “one of the best business partners in the City of San Fernando.” Atherly’s tribute was witnessed by Nandlal’s director Dave Tikasingh and his staff, COTT officials, the media and a host of month end shoppers,.

“This distinction that will be conferred on Nandlal and Sons Ltd should serve to influence other music users in this city to pay up their licence fees, which represent royalties to some 1,500 stakeholders of the local music industry,” Atherly said.

Tikasingh, in his acceptance speech said, “My grandfather Mr Baal Gobin Nandlal taught us that music enhances the mind of shoppers and people as a whole, hence the reason Nandlal and Sons, which has been around for over 95 years, was never without a music system.”

Each month COTT will announce an awardee selected from among the most compliant customers/ licensees, in an effort to honour and reward corporate citizens who show appreciation for and understanding of the value of music to their business.

“These organisations are generally noted for their willingness to pay promptly for the use of music in their business. COTT applauds such responsible actions with the understanding that the revenue from licences translates to royalties for our members and is the creators’ just reward for their creativity,” said COTT’s consultant and president of COTT’s Foundation, Caroline Ravello.

Speaking of COTT’s international affiliation, Ravello made the point that the award must be seen as an endorsement, not only from COTT, but one on behalf of all COTT’s regional and international affiliates and collective management societies, which amounts to over 100 countries worldwide.

Businesses which consistently refuse to pay for an annual licence have been receiving “Warning of An Infringement” letters and they too, will be highlighted in the media at the appropriate time, COTT said.