Aussie nightclubs and gyms get told to bend over

Ever wonder why people can like the musicians and their music but literally hate the music industry?

Well if what is happening in Australia is any example it’s not all that hard to understand although people might be wondering why there’s no background music in the nightclub they’re in or the gym they’re pumping weights at. It will all boil down to a push by the Phonographic Performance Company of Australia to increase their blood money royalties collected.

The PPCA, which represents 750 record companies in the country, recently won a decision from the Copyright Tribunal which will allow them to increase the cost of music played in nightclubs by 15 times. Rubbing their hands with glee over their increased fortunes the PPCA is now going after restaurants with increases that would see a 120-seat eatery license to play music go from the current $125 per year to $19,344 a year. Small cafes would be smacked with a 4729 percent yearly increase which would take them from $124 a year to $5,860.

Next up on the PPCA blackmail list is fitness centers, pubs, shops and hairdressing salons. Their reasoning for going after these businesses

PPCA chief executive Stephen Peach said recorded music attracted patrons to venues and was significantly undervalued. “The rates we have historically charged are barely nominal and we are looking to establish a fair return. The cafe owner just has to ask if the music is worth it, and if it isn’t they don’t have to play it,” he said.

Source: The Age

When it comes to the health centers the PPCA is asking for a 400 times the cost for music played in gyms, from the previous 96 cents a class to $4.54 a month for every member of the club.