Photographer : Mashinka @ Flickr
Sup party people.
The Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA) is a not-for-profit music organisation representing the interests of record labels and recording artists. On 10 July 2007, the Copyright Tribunal approved an application from the PPCA to raise rates for licensed sound recordings in nightclubs from 7 cents to $1.05 per head, and at dance parties from 20 cents to $3.07 per head. The extra revenue is designed to compensate artists whose phat tunes are being dropped in clubs, yo.
But nightclub owners and dance party organisers say the extra cost will increase entry prices, driving away a very price sensitive crowd. "It will see clubs that provide discos and dance nights withdraw their services in suburban and regional parts of the country. They might just decide it's all too expensive," said Clubs Australia Executive Anthony Ball. It is a massive leap in cost.
It’s a difficult situation, as neither the nightclub, dance party or recording industries are exactly thriving. Nightclub patronage fluctuates greatly from week to week, and if it’s true that some venues may be forced to close their doors, then nobody wins. For real real (not for play play)—you won’t get any royalties from a non-existent venue. The decision also fails to take into account music by independent and overseas artists, who are unlikely to see a cent of the extra revenue, which only goes to Australian record labels and artists.
But there is also a hidden injustice here. Those hardest hit are the very people who are promoting so much of the new music—DJ’s who expose new artists and producers. "If it wasn’t for club play then this music wouldn’t be getting exposed in the first place," said Melbourne producer Ritchie McNeil. "If you look at the ARIA Club Charts and then look a couple of weeks later at what’s in the Top 40, then you’ll see that it’s the clubs that are generating the initial interest and groundswell that helps these tracks chart."
On the other side, the PPCA say these tariffs are long overdue and will compensate artists whose music is essential to the nightclub and dance party industries. PPCA board member and former drummer for the Go-Betweens applauded the ruling, saying "It's a lot of work to record, to rehearse, get the material together, and recording artists have been the last in the chain to get remuneration for their work." Right on. I’m not sure how often the Go-Betweens are getting a spin in da clubs these days, but yeah, right on.
Stephen Peach, CEO of the PPCA also argues, "This is a modest increase when considering nightclub operators typically charge $10.00 per person for admission, $5.00 for a drink, $2.80 for a bottle of water and $2.00 to hang up a coat." In this sense, the response from the nightclub industry does appear a tad hysterical.
The sad thing for me is that the two industries are pitted against each other in the first place. It should, like, be all about the music, man. Maybe it’s naïve of me to wish for a situation where music lovers of all kinds work together for the promotion of their art—music is, after all, an art form.
I don’t know how much of an effect this ruling will have in the long run—I think I’d need a couple of economics lessons before I did. So I only hope those calling the shots at the Copyright Tribunal made the ruling with a deep understanding of the business it affects. In other words, if they can do the robot, spin on their heads or shake it like they just don’t care, I’ll trust the decision.
Peace out.
— A Fiddy
How do I know this?
AAP 2007, ‘Clubbers to foot music bill’,
SBS World News, July 11,
http://www.worldnewsaustralia.com.au/region.php?id=138325®ion=7
Angy 2007, ‘Clubbing Price Hike: ITM gets the promoter’s perspective’,
Inthemix.com.au, July 1,
http://www.inthemix.com.au/features/33087/
Clubbing_Price_Hike_ITM_gets_the_promoter%E2%80%99s_perspective
Donovan, P 2007, ‘The day the music in nightclubs got dearer’,
The Age, July 11,
http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/latest-dance-hit-doofdoofdoof-kerching/2007/07/10/1183833519305.html
Phonographic Performance Company of Australia 2007, ‘Better deal for artists ordered by copyright tribunal’,
Media Release,
http://www.ppca.com.au/documents/PPCAmediarelease.pdf
Tadros, E 2007, ‘Music industry fights back over club fee’
Sydney Morning Herald, July 11,
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/music-industry-fights-back-over-club-fee/2007/07/11/1183833563190.html
