Music Use Fee Unreasonable

Newcastle Herald

Wednesday January 24, 2007

By FRANCES THOMPSON

GYMS and fitness centres that play music for group exercise sessions could face massive increases in performance fees, a move operators say will kill classes.

The Phonographic Performance Company of Australia, which collects fees for music played in fitness classes, charges centres a capped maximum of $2507 but industry estimates say a fee review could push that figure to a staggering $92,223 a year.

Fitness Australia chief executive Laurette Stace said the review identified increases from the present tariff of 94.6 cents a lesson to $31.06, which would force clubs to cut classes or pass the "unreasonable, unrealistic" charges to clients.

The company says the review is the first time the value of music in gyms has been assessed.

A spokeswoman said it was consulting operators and new fees would not be set until the review was completed.

The Forum in Honeysuckle, managed by NUsport, could incur the capped maximum if the valuation is accepted.

At the other end of the scale, Singleton Shire Council's Gym and Swim, a favourite with families, could be slugged an extra $50,000 each year, up from the present total of $2507.

The centres play past and present hits that are remixed to create exercise that is evenly paced and phrased and designed to produce high or low heart rates.

Fitness Australia is urging members to unite and fight.

"People don't join to listen to music," Mrs Stace said.

"We need to challenge the model," she said.

The organisation will appeal against the move at the Copyright Tribunal hearing on the matter in February, Mrs Stace said.

NUsport general manager Samantha Martin-Williams conducted classes at The Forum yesterday, playing remixed music originally by Madonna and Jessica Simpson.

None of the clubs wanted to pass on the increases to clients and agreed it was likely group classes would be cut to reduce costs.

"Given the magnitude of the increase I would be very surprised if any business would be able to bear that type of cost," Mrs Martin-Williams said.

PLAY LIST

These Boots Are Made For Walking - Jessica Simpson

Don't Cha, Pussycat Dolls

Hung Up, Madonna

Something Got Me Started, Simply Red

From Paris to Berlin, Infernal

Mesmerized, Faith Evans

Don't Phunk With My Heart, Black Eyed Peas

© 2007 Newcastle Herald

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