Aussie Gyms Fight Music Licensing Hike
While the feud over Internet radio royalties plays out in the United States [see Technology Daily's PM Edition for details], a different kind of musical war is being waged in Australia.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, health clubs down under could be forced to play cover versions of popular tunes as they try to avoid a 30-fold hike in license fees for playing copyrighted music in fitness classes.
The possible rate increase follows a ruling by the country's copyright tribunal that said nightclubs and dance parties should pay $1.05 and $3.07 per patron respectively. Fitness Australia's Lauretta Stace said the change could raise class license fees from $0.92 to $31.67 a class.
An typical health club that offers 40 classes per week would have to pay annual license costs of $65,000, up from $1,900. Smaller independent gyms could also close, Stace said.
Facilities could look into playing other musicians' versions of songs to avoid the rate hike. "Whether it's [Abba tribute band] Bjorn Again or the real thing, we don't think it's going to affect the class," Stace told the newspaper.
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