BROADCAST MUSIC

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11767, 14 October 1932, Page 5

BROADCAST MUSIC

PERFORMING RIGHTS INQUIRY. PREPOSTEROUS DEMANDS. CHARGES WOULD BE £s6,ouu YEARLY IN NEAR FUTURE. (U.P.A. by Elec. Tel: Copyright ) .Received Oct. 13. 8-45 p.m.) SYDNEY, Oct. 13. At the performing rights inquiry, H. P. Williams, central manager of the' Australian Broadcasting Commission. outlined the case for the broadcasting stations and the public. He said there were serious objections to the heavy unit charge of 2a 4td demanded by the Australian Performing Rights Association. This charge would become Ds 6d per item if relayed from a main station. It was also proposed to increase the presentcharges in the event of additional listeners taking up radio, so that when the number u£ licensed listeners reached, say, 700.000, the unit charge would become 4; 63d, aggregating £56,000 per year, which was preposterous. AVitness emphasised that there was a serious doubt respecting the large quantity of music now regarded as copyright as to whether the original authors and composers had not long since ceased to receive any share of (he fees. There was also grave doubt as to whether a considerable amount of music which should pass into the possession of the community was not being exploited for copyright fees.