ROYALTY PAYMENTS

Evening Star, Issue 22596, 13 March 1937, Page 4

ROYALTY PAYMENTS

INCREASE IN ENGLAND ASKED Drastic measures which may result in a famine of music and plays for broadcasting in England are threatened by the Performing Right Society. It has asked the 8.8. C.. for an , increase in the payments made in royalties to the society for distribution, among members, who include the leading composers and authors. It has been advised that negotiations were stated to be, “ hanging fire,” and if the negotiations fall through the P.R.S. is- prepared to withdraw from the 8.8. C. permission to broadcast work of any member. As 60 per cent, of 8.8. C. programmes consists of music, one of the 8.8.C.’s principal sources of material would be seriously affected. The effect would be as if the majority of living writers and composers had gone on strike so far as broadcasting is concerned.

At present the society, £115,000 a year from the 8.8. C.— roughly 3 per cent, of the total license revenue. The sum asked by the society now represents about 10 pet cent, of the license revenue.. When the new 8.8. C. charter is ratified the division of the 10s license fee will bej To the 8.8. C. 6s 9d; to the Government, 2s 3d; to the Post Office, Is,