Music Industry lose High Court challenge
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The High Court of Australia today ruled against the PPCA in their bid to lift the cap on royalties paid by radio stations to air recorded music.
The PPCA had argued that artists and labels are underpaid by the radio industry and require a 'fairer return' for the music they provide. They said that the Copyright Act 1968 which imposes the cap was unconstitutional because it amounted to an acquisition of rights on terms that were unjust.
The present cap requires commercial radio stations to pay 1% of their revenue to the PPCA, and the ABC to pay 0.5 cents per head of population.
The PPCA were supported in their court case by EMI, Sony, Universal and Warner Music. PPCA chief Dan Rosen said “It's protecting a billion-dollar industry that doesn't need protection and taking that money out of the pockets of Australian artists and musicians.”
The High Court ruling today was unanimous.