Slipped Discs To See Worried Gyms Ducking For Covers

The Age

Thursday July 12, 2007

Arjun Ramachandran

GYM members could be forced to do their squat thrusts to cover versions of popular songs, as fitness clubs look to avoid a big hike in licence fees for playing copyrighted music in classes.

The possible fee rise for fitness clubs follows a Copyright Tribunal ruling on Tuesday on playing recorded music in public.

The tribunal ruled nightclubs and dance parties had to pay $1.05 and $3.07 per patron respectively.

A rise in fees paid by gyms was now also before the tribunal, said Lauretta Stace, chief executive of Fitness Australia, the body representing fitness clubs.

The organisation received a proposal from the Phonographic Performance Company of Australia to increase fitness class licence fees from 92.4 cents a class to $31.67 a class.

Under that proposal, from December 2005, an "average size" fitness centre running 40 classes a week would have to pay annual licence costs of $65,000, up from $1900 under present arrangements, Ms Stace said.

"That level of increase . . . could mean a reduction in the number of group exercises run," Ms Stace said.

"Any increase in (membership) costs will see people dropping out of fitness, which is disappointing for our clubs but also for the general population."

Gyms were also exploring the option of substituting copyrighted music played during exercise classes with "unprotected . . . cover versions".

"Whether it's (ABBA tribute band) Bjorn Again or the real thing, we don't think it will affect the class," Ms Stace said. The matter of a fee increase went to the tribunal after negotiations with the Phonographic Performance Company over the proposal broke down late last year. -- ARJUN RAMACHANDRAN

© 2007 The Age

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