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I applaud the stance that Grant Broadcasters have taken on this issue and hope that other networks follow suit in protest.
However I wonder if anyone has realised the full impact of the high court ruling. Let’s take it one step further – the faceless men that are making the cash grab now decide to backdate the claim from when internet streaming first started at each station/network. For commercial networks they may have the cash to pay this, but what about the local radio sector? Just about all of these stations run on the smell of an oily rag. How could any of them afford to pay this outrageous double dipping? Surely common sense must take place here.
And what about people who run internet-only music streaming? How are they going to be tracked down and billed for this? Will the faceless money grabbers try & track them down?
This decision needs to be overturned.
The decision can't be overturned Tim. There is no court of appeal higher than the High Court.
I'd like to know why there has been NOTHING from the industry body that is supposed to represent us: Commercial Radio Australia. Not a single thing. To CRA it's not even worthy to make their news page.
The most important thing on CRA's is "YouTube sensation Natalie Tran & multi-media junkie Jules Lund to present at National Radio Conference.
That is the organisation that is supposed to look after our interests and our industry.
Those of us old enough to remember the "record ban" of 1970, when both Australian and British songs from the major labels were lost to the airwaves from May to November of that year as the labels sought fees back then, will see the parallels to the current dispute. Even with the court victory, the music industry needs to be careful here. While it is true they are fighting piracy as so many downloads are not paid for, to seek to make up some of the shortfall from broacasters by way of increased fees for airplay needs to be done sensibly. Radio is also facing the same pressures as entertainment options explode, especially for younger listeners. It is time for the music companies to sit down with the radio industry and come up with a deal that will allow stations to keep their presence on line and allow the labels an increased return. To set an unrealistic fee for the on line part of the business will see more stations forced to forfeit their on line presence, resulting in a shrinking of revenue for all involved. Mark F's point on community radio also needs to be factored in here. Community stations are great supporters of country music, which will suffer without some common sense coming into play here.