Radio and record industries to face off over streaming royalties

The Australian recorded music sector and commercial radio, who’ve been taking potshots at each other over streaming royalties, are heading to the Copyright Tribunal tomorrow (Thursday, February 13).

The Australian Financial Review reported that the Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA) called for the hearing. It wants feedback on the interim royalty fees that the Tribunal demanded, and to work out a schedule for future hearings.

The AFR also acquired a letter that Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull sent to regional MPs on why he refused to step into the debate. Doing so could “potentially breach Australia’s international trade obligations”, he claims.

In another letter, he warned, “The creation of a legislative instrument to resolve a commercial dispute between two parties would result in the government effectively creating an unfair regulatory environment that serves to favour the business model of traditional radio broad­casters over the Internet content ­providers and lead to a competitive disadvantage model between the two mediums.”

Commercial Radio Australia CEO Joan Warner’s response: “Either the Minister has been mis­informed or he’s not had the chance to look at all the facts surrounding this quite complex issue.”