Royalties to play CNY tunes?
ROYALTIES would not be imposed on business operators who play Chinese New Year songs in their premises during the festive season, China Press reported.Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Mohd Shafie Apdal was quoted as saying that the decision was made after serious consideration that the Chinese community loved New Year tunes to be played to create a lively atmosphere.The decision meant royalties have been waived on businesses such as barbershops, hair salons, boutiques and coffeeshops.However, Mohd Shafie said operators who played songs on a perennial basis still had to pay royalties. - The Star Online 24 January 2008
This is the first time I heard of such a news. What’s the reason to pay for the royalties? I thought they have to buy the tape or cd? And the sales pretty much settles the royalty fee issue? No? I just wonder the validity of imposing the royalty fees. Hmmmmm …
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Royalty is a mean to collect “payment” to the artists and composers for the “work” they put in to keep us lot entertained. It is fair as, for the price of a CD you paid, only a small percentage goes to those creative brains and articulately-voiceds. So if you want to be entertained by your fav crooner at home, you “pay” him by buying his CD. And if you are enjoying some music, like Tito Puente playing in the background in my cafe at the moment, I would have to “pay” him and his band to entertain me and my customers!
In Malaysia, there are 2 bodies doing the collecting, namely MACP and PPM, the former collecting for the composers, while the latter the performers (I think). So I have to pay both parties in order to play music legally, which is fine as I know I’m doing the “right” thing that I pay, otherwise who wants to be singer/writer/composer without being paid in the end?
The trivial part your the story you posted is that why there seems to be repetition of the same issue every year? We celebrate our festivities yearly without fail, and during these festivities we play songs relevant to them to create and to feel the moment, be it Hari Raya, CNY, Xmas, etc.. So why has this Ministry not made the ruling earlier to allow playing of festival-related music free from royalty payment? And, on a more cynical note, why this statement during CNY? I don’t see/read and issue pertaining this during Raya/X-mas time? Hmmm….
His comment that “operators who played songs on a perennial basis still had to pay royalties” is rather silly too because frankly, if he is not aware already by now, these music are only meaningful during the relevant festivities. If I go into a shop in mid June, and “White Christmas” is playing in the background, I would back-track my footsteps and get out before the psycho pounce (My view anyway)! Who would play CNY “Tok Tok Chiang” during Merdeka?
Anyway, I think the Ministry should decide a ruling once and for all, whether to charge or not, and stop making a fool of themselves. This will stop the confusion amongst people like me know can never be so sure about what to do and what’s not to do, and beng left vulnerable to corrupt practices by enforcement officers (Like MBPJ, but that’s another story for another time).
Well, just my 2sen worth….and trying not to politicise everything these days…difficult…