COPYRIGHT WORKS

Southland Times, Issue 21831, 7 October 1932, Page 7

COPYRIGHT WORKS

BROADCASTING PERFORMANCES. PUBLISHERS SERIOUSLY AFFECTED. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) Sydney, October 6. Giving evidence at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the question of performing rights, George Sutherland, a director of a leading firm of music publishers in Melbourne, said wireless broadcasting was destroying his and other similar businesses owing to the too frequent performance of musical works, which killed the demand, the turnover of his business having dropped 57 per cent, since 1926. He contended that if music publishers ceased to exist the public would have to find their own music, as there was a grave doubt whether there was sufficient inducement for composers to carry on without the publishers.

Sydney Edwards, secretary to the Australasian Performing Rights Association, said his association was affiliated with kindred organizations in the British Empire. Usually one-third of the copyright fees went to the author, one-third to the composer and onethird to the publisher. New Zealand was receiving better terms from his association because of the smallness of her population. The copyright fees, he added, represented a very small proportion of the annual sum paid by licensed wireless listeners. Mr Edwards said his association’s receipts from broadcasting for the twelve months ended June, 1931, totalled £35,615, £28,833 of which was from A stations, £2512 from B stations and £4270 from New Zealand.

George Sutherland, recalled, reiterated that far too much music was being broadcasted and was destroying public appreciation. He suggested that a greater percentage cf non-musical matter should be put over the air. The Government received too large a share of radio license fees. A greater proportion of listeners’ fees should go to the oroadcasting authorities in order to improve programmes. Witness admitted that music publishers sent records and new pieces to the broadcaster because it brought revenue. Nevertheless broadcasting vulgarized and ruined the sale of sheet music. He also admitted that his firm operated a broadcast station. This was because it was about the only business now profitable. Witness was asked whether about £BOO,OOO being performing right fees throughout the world if pooled, would provide 20 per cent, of the new music requisite for broadcasting. He replied that it possibly would. The inquiry was adjourned