London charity concert told to pay royalties in ‘embarrassing’ copyright row

Earl Okin, pictured in 2004, says he will send the money collected by the PRS on to the charity. Photograph: David Sillitoe/The Guardian

A charity concert in aid of needy musicians starring Dame Evelyn Glennie and the BBC Radio 4 announcer Zeb Soanes has been hit by an “embarrassing” copyright row over six minutes of suggestive comedy jazz.

The event at Cadogan Hall in London on 1 April mostly featured humorous arrangements of out-of-copyright classical works, and was intended to raise money for the Help Musicians charity.