BROADCASTING OF RECORDS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1932, Page 6

BROADCASTING OF RECORDS

ROYALTY DEMANDED. MANUFACTURERS’ STAND AG A INST GO ATP AN IES. Radio broadcasting companies ill Australia and New Zealand are greatly concerned at the demand of the largest group of gramophone record manufacturers iii Australia, including the H’.x •Master’s Voice, Columbia, and Barlophoiiu organisations, for a royalty ot 2s 6d 011 every one of their records broadcast. According to the latest advice from Sydney, this demand has been made following the dispute between these record manufacturers and the companies. . : Foil some past the nianuiactiiring companies have refused to supply any further records lor broadcasting or' for public performance, except by their special permission. Broadcasting stations have thus been limited in their selection to the stocks which they already hold. It is reported that the record manufacturers intend to take action against several of the stations which have broadcast records since this restriction was enforced, although the records are each stamped with a warning that they may not be performed in public.

•CONFERENCE FAILS. Recently the manufacturers made representations to the broadcasting companies in Australia and New Zealand pointing out that their trade had suifered severely through the too-lfequent broadcasting of popular times, and that although they were willing to supply records if these were used in moderation, they would not be a party to destroying their own business. Since then a , conference ha.s been held in Australia, but it reached 110 agreement, although it is stated that the broadcasting companies expressed their willingness to co-operate ill future. Further conferences are to ho held, and the Australian Federation of Broadcasting Stations is, approaching the Postmaster-! tenoral j(Mr Teuton) for Government assistmice. If the prohibition is permanently enforced the greatest sufferers will be the 13 class stations, which rely largely cm records for their programmes, but •the A class stations will also be seriously affected. The B reclass stations complain that while they serve a huge percentage of . listeners, and aic therefore to some extent responsible lor the revenue received by the Australian anil New Zealand Governments, they must depend upon advertising for their own revenue, must pay/ lor a license, and are now subject to demands, which they claim would be ruinous.

APPEAL TO GOVERNMENT. The Australian. Performing Rights Association, which owns the copyright of many popular melodies, has also in creased its charges on broadcast records, Because of the.r lim’ted revenue, it is claimed, some the of .the 13 class mav he driven out of business if these, conditions an* enforced. r l lie record manufacturers, however, have the excellent reply that they must consul r their own business first. I bey claim also that the assistance which they have given broadcasting companies in the past ha.s been seriously ionised. As the whole question ot the control of broadcasting 'is now being miest,gated by the Australian Federal Cabinet it is probable that the 13 class stations will make an appeal lor assistance to the Commonwealth Government. A similar appeal may he mad ill New Zealand, although it is stated that the record manufacturers would renew negotiations with the New Zealand Government, which now controls the A class stations of the Dominion.