EDITORIAL NOTES.

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 16, 30 October 1931, Page 4

EDITORIAL NOTES.

"THE news from Australia that the major gramophone companies are finding their business seriously affected by the too liberal and unrestricted use of their records over the air by broadcasting stations is of importance in the suggestion that heavy restrictions upon this sphere of activity are likely to follow. We are not surprised at this news. ‘The position has arisen before, and already a certain amount of restriction is applied. This is mainly applicable to the "A" class stations, which are under proper co-ordination and control, The "B"’ class stations are not so well organised, and, because they rely almost entirely upon recorded music for their programmes, are the greater offenders from the point of view of the gramophone companies. From the "A" class stations the gramophone companies, through the Copyright Association, doubtless draw some financial remuneration as compensation for the use of their copyrights. The "B" class stations, at anyrate in this country, pay but a nominal fee of some £10 per annum, this being set low in recognition of their absence of a revenue. In Australia there are some 44 "B" class stations affected. In New Zealand there are 32 "B" class stations registered, although all do not operate on anything like full schedules, By reason of these sta.tions using records freely and in the main being prepared to give request numbers as desired, it is understandable that some trade in popular records may have been lost to the gramophone companies. There is, of course, another side to the story. That is, that through publicity given to good records, sales may be stimulated and the revenue of the gramophone companies increased. Without the necessary business data it is somewhat difficult to assess the respective strengths of these two forces. It is plain, however, that the gramophone companies consider they have a case for contro) and at any rate judicious co-operation on the part of the broadcasting authorities. he situation is certainly a case against the indiscriminate expansion of radio stations and for the establishment of a unified service which, while protecting the interests of listeners, can co-operate with business interests affected by radio.