Nightclubs across Australia were hit with a landmark ruling that will see the fee they pay to have music performed increase fifteen times.
The ruling, which is a rare moment where the bureaucrats side with artists over all else, is designed to see more money land in artists pockets who are creating the music that keeps the clubs filled night after night.Formerly clubs were charged approximately 7 cents per person in the venue which was then paid to a governing body and in turn filtered out to registered artists, but now they'll be forced to pay $1.05.
Larger dance parties such as Two Tribes will see their fee increase from 20 cents per person to $3.07, a 15.35 fold increase.
Many believe this will send clubs broke, although artists (not surprisingly) are elated.
In Melbourne, the cost of a pot of Carlton Draught at the city's beloved venue (and bar who's business relies almost entiry on music) the Corner Hotel is $3.50, more than three times the cost the venue will be charged per person.
The average Australian band is not making a living off their music.
Many people not connected to the music industry probably don't realise it, but every time you walk into a nightclub, caf??, bar, hotel lobby, department store or any public place (with the exception of record stores) the proprietor of the store has paid a fee to play music in the background.
