SUDDEN DEMAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 174, 25 July 1935, Page 8

SUDDEN DEMAND.

GRAMOPHONE FEES.

HUGE SUM CLAIMED.

10/ PER SIDE PER PLAYING

GOVERNMENT ACTION URGED,

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

CEKISTCHUKCir, this day

All private or club-supported B class broadcasting stations in the Dominion are faced with the prospect of closing down almost immediately.

A notice has been received from the gramophone industry . forbidding the unauthorised use of records in programmes transmitted.

It appears that action by tTic Government is the only possibility of keeping these stations on the air. In addition to the ban on the use. of records, the companies have requested the stations to furnish details of all records broadcast without authority during the past three years, and a demand has been made for 10/ per record side, for each time the record has been used in a programme without authority.

Failing receipt of an undertaking to cease unauthorised broadcasting or to give the details asked for the companies reserve the right to take* legal action for an injunction, damages and other relief to which they may be entitled.

In the case of station 3ZM, Christehurcli, which has been on the air for two years and four months, the amount to be paid for records broadcast in the past would be approximately £250 a week, or a total of about £36,000. As far as other stations are concerned the amount will vary according to the number of records broadcast. Huge Liability. A Press Association message from Nelson states that 2ZR Radio Club's alleged liability for broadcasting copyright records is about £43,000.