Rebroadcasting Band Music

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 29, 1 February 1929, Page 30

Rebroadcasting Band Music

Mr. Harris Replies to Criticism (COMMENTING on Mr. J. Reid’s statement to the Wanganui Band Contest Committee that the Radio Broadcasting Company was anticipating the contest music by broadcasting its pieces, Mr. A. R. Harris characterised it as a storm in a teacup. "Tt would seem," said Mr. Harris, "that Mr. Reid has not had a full grip of the facts, or is distorting them. In addition to the telegraphed report, we have perused a report in a Wanganui newspaper which gives the full text of the secretary’s statement. It would appear that he seized the opportunity to make a loud protest against the Broadcasting Company because 2YA broadeast a gramophone record of an orchestral interpretation of ‘Moorside Suite,’ which is to be one of the A grade test pieces at the contest. "In connection with this, he makes the accusation: ‘Hvidently the Broadcasting Company when it learned of the selected music for the contest, sent Home for the records, secured copies and broadcast it without consulting the executive controlling the contest,’ and that in so doing the company had filched the rights of the ‘committee,

rights for which it had paid the Brass Band Association £60. ' "The secretary may as well know now, before he makes any further wild statements, that this company would not be infringing the rights of anyone if it broadcast all music available by means of gramophone records, Under the new Copyright Act, the Broadcasting Company is required to set aside for the current year an amount up to. £3000 for payment of copyright claims approved by an independent competent authority. Notwithstanding this right, the company has expressed itself willing to favourably consider any reasonable request to refrain from broadcasting any copyright music that may be purchased by other interests for performance in New Zealand. It was in accordance with this policy that the Broadcasting Company at once agreed to the Band Contest Committee’s request to ‘refrain from broadcasting its contest music.’ This arrangement was confirmed by letter. It was not, however, until yesterday that the adminisrative office was advised by telegram from the secretary what were the titles of the contest pieces. Although the test pieces are already recorded, any bandmaster can procure and reproduce them privately on a gramophone. "It would appear, however, that, unknown to head office, 2YA broadcast an orchestral (not a brass band) interpretation of ‘Moorside Suite,’ being probably advised by the gramophone representative that it was a test number, that fact being announced to add more interest to it. It is -therefore quite evident that this record is available te anyone in New Zealand, and can be used by a brass band conductor for all the good it may be to him "The Broadcasting Company knows exactly where it stands, legally and morally, and it has shown its keen desire to fall in with the wishes of the Band Contest Committee in every way possible. If the Band Contest Committee decided that it would help the contest if all the test pieces were broadcast over and over again, the Broadcasting Company would do it (if the records were available); if the committee wishes otherwise, the Broadcasting Company will refrain, although it may think that from a real publicity point of view the committee is mistaken in its policy."