BROADCAST OF RECORDS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 5 September 1932, Page 6

BROADCAST OF RECORDS.

COMPROMISE IN EUROPE DOMINION RESTRICTIONS The ‘ ‘ war ’ ’ between gramophonecompanies and broadcasting authoritiesin Europe has ended. Although no instructions have yet been received by New Zealand stations or the agencies . of the gramophone companies concerned, the lifting of at least some of the restrictions at present in force in the ■ Dominion may be expected. At present the broadcasting of records is permitted subject to certain regulations. The council of the International Broadcasting Union has been told that a ‘‘happy” solution has been found between the manufacturers and the radio authorities. From now on broadcasting stations in Europe will be in a position to use the best records free of charge, as long as they are limited to 60 hours a month.

'The restrictions at present techni- ■ cally in force in New Zealand v are that no new release may be broadcast until after three months and that no record ■ may be repeated within a month. More? over, royalties are paid to the Perform? - ing Eights Association, on a per record basis by the national stations and a yearly flat rate basis by the B - stations. ' - n 'y' The gramophone Companies principally affected are the manufacturers of His Master’s Voice, Columbia, Zonosphone, Regal and Parlophone records. _ '“Until the legal position is definitely determined the gramophone companies are seemingly powerless, ’ ’ said Mr. W. E. Booth, manager of the gramophone and radio department of an Auckland firm, on Monday. “But there is an - \undoubted moral obligation on the broadcasting authorities not to abuse their privileges.” Lists of records to be broadcast are submitted regularly to the Performing Rights Association, . which informs the gramophone companies concerned if there is any departure from the restrictions. With the recent lifting of the restrictions formerly imposed on the YA stations by the Government recordings are now more frequently broadcast from these stations than formerly, although local artists are still availed of : to a considerable extent. Moreover, a good portion of the programmes is devoted to talks and outside relays. “In spite of the - ‘happy solution’ arrived at overseas, we in the Dominion are convinced that broadcasting of records has-a detrimental-effect-on the gramophone industry,said-Mr. Booth. Since the practice was adopted sales of records had fallen,. Jto. , jftae?quarter of " what they were formorlyV /* The radio stations would be placed in a sorry " plight if the practice was prohibited entirely, Mr.-Booth added. L ust The solution to the prdblem bably be the use of gratoophbne records of programmes of such stations 'as those) of the British Broadcasting Corporation. These . recorded' -programmes will be sold .to overseas stations. . . " ■