CLUBBERS at a Rawtenstall nightspot will find a vital ingredient to their evening’s entertainment missing – the music.

The club’s proprietor faced the music at London's High Court and was banned by one of the country’s top judges from playing recorded copyrighted music on the premises.

Mr Justice Roth imposed the sounds of silence on Karl Boddy, trading as Vogue Nightclub in Bacup Road, after hearing he had been caught playing recorded music there without a Phonographic Performance Ltd (PPL) licence.

He also ordered Boddy, who was not in court and not represented, to pay £1,608 in legal costs within 14 days. The ban also extends to any other premises he runs until he brings his licence up to date, and if he does not comply he could be jailed.

Failure to obey the order and turn any premises he runs into a music-free zone until all licence fees are brought up to date would be regarded as contempt of court, the penalties for which can be fines of up to £10,000 and up to six months in prison.

The judge was told that he was caught after a PPL inspector visited the premises and heard music being played when no licence was in force.

The inspector heard tracks including ‘Scream’ by Usher, ‘Something New’ by Girls Aloud, and ‘Don't You Worry Child’ by Swedish House Mafia featuring John Martin Black, on January 11.

PPL’s counsel Fiona Clark said that solicitors sent letters to the premises informing Boddy that the playing in public of sound recordings without a licence or permission constituted infringement of its copyright, and invited him to get a licence. He failed to do so. The ban, imposed on Friday, applies to all forms of mechanically recorded music such as records, tapes and CDs. Depending on the size of a venue and the audiences involved, music licences can cost very little but they can also run into hundreds or even thousands of pounds.

PPL spokeswoman Clare Goldie said: “PPL is the UK-based music licensing company which licenses recorded music for broadcast, online and public performance use.

“Established in 1934, PPL carries out this role on behalf of thousands of record company and per- former members.”

Mr Boddy declined to comment.