Broadcasting Copyright Music

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 38, 3 April 1931, Page 4

Broadcasting Copyright Music

Interesting Test Case

HE American Society of Authors, Composers, and Publishers propose to collect a royalty fee for the reproduction of copyrighted music broadcast by radio and received in the lobby of a certain Kansas City hotel, The case is regarded as vital to American broadcasting, especially in view of the increasing use of radio receivers in public gathering places, including theatres. Counsel for the defence contends that broadcast reception is not a performance of a musical composition, and that, if it is, the broadcaster does not perform publicly. Copyright holders are empowered under the law to collect royalties for the

public performance for profit of their: compositions, and the broadcasters now pay royalties aggregating approximately 1,500,000 dollars annually (£300,000) for the right to use copyrighted music.