Eos members agree Radio Cymru interim licence vote

Radio Cymru has lost rights to play about 30,000 songs

A group that represents Welsh language musicians has voted in favour of offering BBC Radio Cymru an interim licence to play its music as a dispute over royalty payments continues.

Eos represents musicians who broke away from the Performing Right Society (PRS) in a row over payments.

More than 300 withdrew the right to play their music on the Welsh station after both sides failed to agree fees.

The BBC said its priority remained "reaching a fair settlement".

At a meeting in Caernarfon on Friday evening, following a similar meeting in Cardiff on Tuesday, EOS members voted unanimously in favour of offering Radio Cymru an interim licence to play their music.

The vote has given solicitors the mandate to contact the BBC and make the offer.

Dafydd Roberts, of EOS, said he "hoped the music would be used on Radio Cymru in the near future."

However, if the dispute cannot be resolved through continuing negotiation, BBC Wales has said a legally-binding copyright tribunal will be used to resolve the issue.

BBC Cymru Wales said in a statement: "This sounds like a very positive development but we haven't yet finalised an agreement.

"Until then we're not in a position to make any further comment other than to say that our priority remains reaching a fair settlement and restoring Eos members' music to Radio Cymru on a permanent basis."