Changes to fitness class music

On Monday 17 May, the Copyright Tribunal ruled in support of the PPCA proposal to increase music licence fees for fitness centres.  The Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA) is a non-profit organisation which collects and distributes revenue from sound recording licences to Australian recording artists and record labels. Fitness centres and gyms pay PPCA licence fees to play copyright protected music in fitness classes.

The new rates, which apply from the 1 July 2010, mean fitness operators will pay $15.00 per class (an increase from 96.8¢ per fitness class).

Some fitness centres have pre-empted the decision and elected to play PPCA-free music. This means Group Fitness Instructors will NOT be able to play music signed to the PPCA (recordings protected under copyright law).

Les Mills Asia Pacific (LMAP) has announced that all of its future releases will contain PPCA-free music. David Lewis, CEO of LMAP wrote: The consequences of Clubs electing to go PPCA free for Instructors means certain tracks cannot be used. In the coming weeks Les Mills will be compiling a list of tracks from back-releases that can be used. From Quarter 2 releases, ALL music will be PPCA free.

Group Fitness Instructors should check their fitness centre's arrangement.

For more information visit PPCA

www.ppca.com.au

For PPCA Free Music visit The Music and Motion Studio
www.fitness-essentials.com/copyright-free-music-c-61.html