Music Rights Australia GM outlines "significant" changes to safe harbours

The Australian Government has produced an Exposure Draft to amend the Copyright Act.  In an article for The Music Network, Vanessa Hutley, General Manager of Music Rights Australia (http://www.musicrights.com.au/) outlines that proposals regarding Australia's 'safe harbour laws' have the potential to impact the creative content industries in a significant way.

The article is available at: https://www.themusicnetwork.com/news/music-rights-australias-gm-outlines-significant-change-to-safe-harbours.

Further information on the proposals and the consultation which closes on 12 February 2016 is available at: https://www.communications.gov.au/have-your-say/updating-australias-copyright-laws

AMPAL appoints new General Manager

AMPAL has appointed Matthew O’Sullivan as its new General Manager.  O’Sullivan is taking over from Jeremy Fabinyi, who is stepping down from the role this week.

O’Sullivan has been the Company Secretary of AMPAL since 2012 and has taken a hands-on role in the management of the company with Fabinyi over the past 12 months.

O’Sullivan has previously practised as a lawyer in Sydney with further experience in the UK, and brings to the role a deep knowledge of the organisation and its members and the issues facing music publishers today.  On accepting the role, O’Sullivan remarked, ‘I’m very pleased to be taking up the position of General Manager of AMPAL.  I’m keen to build on the achievements the organisation has made over the past few years, and I look forward to serving our music publisher members and the songwriters and composers they represent.’

The Chair of AMPAL, Matthew Capper commented, ‘We are excited to be working with Matthew as our new General Manager, as AMPAL continues expanding on its important role as the voice of the music publishing industry for Australasia.’ 

Matthew O'Sullivan

Matthew O'Sullivan

AMPAL elects new board members, General Manager to exit

At its recent annual general meeting the Australasian Music Publishers Association elected Jane English ­ managing director of Music Sales ­ and Matthew Donlevy of Frankdon Music to its board of directors. Re-elected to the board were Bob Aird of Universal Music Publishing, Simon Moor from Kobalt and Philip Walker from Origin Music.

The AGM also learnt that Jeremy Fabinyi would be stepping down as General Manager of the Association in the new year. The board has begun the process of recruiting a replacement.

Fabinyi has held the post since 2012 after returning to Australia after a ten year stint in Europe that included senior positions at international authors rights organisations CISAC and BIEM in Paris and at MCPS and PRS in the UK. He also served as interim CEO at PRS for Music.

Prior to leaving Australia he was Group Managing Director of Festival Mushroom Records and Festival Publishing and Festival Studios. He held the post of CEO of AMPAL & AMCOS during the 1990s and was the principal of artist management company Mental Management responsible for the management of, among others, Mental as Anything, The Wiggles, The Cockroaches and Machinations. He began his career as a radio and TV journalist with the ABC.

The chair of AMPAL, Matthew Capper told the meeting: 'On behalf of the AMPAL Board and the members, I would like to express our thanks to Jeremy for his dedication to AMPAL and his excellent stewardship of the company. Jeremy has done an incredible job in guiding and invigorating the organisation, and we are very thankful to have had someone of Jeremy¹s calibre and expertise to represent the interests of AMPAL and its members.'

Jeremy Fabinyi thanked the board, the chair and the company secretary for their support during his tenure. 'I have enjoyed my time at AMPAL immensely and look forward to the organisation carrying on its good work on behalf of Australian and New Zealand music publishers and the authors and composers they represent.'

directors elected at ampal annual general meeting

Matthew Donlevy and Jane English were elected to the board of directors of AMPAL at the AGM on 17 November 2015. Also re-elected were Bob Aird, Simon Moor, and Philip Walker. Matthew Capper and Clive Hodson were subsequently re-appointed as Chair and Deputy Chair respectively.

Matthew Donlevy is the Managing Director of Frankdon Music Pty Limited. He is also a Director of Minder Music Australia Pty Ltd.  Matthew’s previous appointments include Managing Director of peermusic Pty Ltd & Regional Director South East Asia for peermusic, also professional manager of ATV Northern Songs and Castle Music.   

Jane English has worked extensively in the Australasian music publishing business. Jane is currently Managing Director of Music Sales Pty Ltd. She has also worked for EMI MP Asia ( Regional Director), BMG MP Asia Pacific (Vice-President), EMI MP Hong Kong (General Manager), Warner Bros MP Australia (General Manager), Warner Bros MP Asia ( General Manager) and Rondor Music Australia (General Manager).  She has been on the Executive Committees of the Asian Music Publishers Association and the Hong Kong Music Publishers Association. Outside of music publishing, Jane has worked in the live music sector, primarily as Festival Director of Good Vibrations Festival and managing various venues, she has provided free legal advice to musicians and songwriters at the Arts Law Centre of Australia and assisted in establishing Support Act Limited. She holds an Honours degree in Law, an Arts degree and a graduate diploma in legal practice. 

 

CISAC publishes new Global Collections Report with 2014 data

The International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) has released a new Global Collections Report, concerning global royalty collections for the year 2014.  

The Report reveals that total royalties collected in 2014 by CISAC’s 230 member societies amounted to €7.9 billion, up 2.8% from 2013.  Music repertoire accounting for the majority of collections at 87%.  Total collections for music repertoire were €6.909 billion, up 2.4% from €6.746 billion in 2013, following a slight decline decline in 2013. 

More information and the full report is available at:

http://www.cisac.org/Newsroom/News-Releases/CISAC-publishes-new-Global-Collections-Report

2015 International Songwriting Competition

The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) is an annual song contest whose mission is to provide the opportunity for both aspiring and established songwriters to have their songs heard in a professional, international arena. ISC is designed to nurture the musical talent of songwriters on all levels and promote excellence in the art of songwriting. Amateur and professional songwriters and musicians are invited to participate.

68 winners will share in the cash and prizes and categories include: AAA (Adult Album Alternative), AC (Adult Contemporary), Americana, Blues, Children's Music, Comedy/Novelty, Country, EDM (Electronic Dance Music), Folk/Singer-Songwriter, Christian, Instrumental, Jazz, Latin Music, Lyrics Only, Music Video, Performance, Pop/Top 40, R&B/Hip-Hop, Rock, Teen, World Music, and Unsigned Only. Entrants may submit as many songs as they wish - in the same category or in multiple categories.  Entries close on 5 November 2015 and the entry cost is $35 per song or category. 

For more information see http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/

Music industry commits to National Business Development Plan

Together with other peak industry bodies, AMPAL recently attended the inaugural National Contemporary Music Roundtable hosted by Music Australia.  The forum was an opportunity for industry representatives to formulate strategies to drive growth in the industry. 

Following the Roundtable, industry-wide strategies will be developed focussing on three key areas:

- industry economics;

- market development and promotion; and

- industry skills and capabilities.

AMPAL will be involved in this process.  For more information see: https://musicaustralia.org.au/2015/08/industry-commits-to-national-business-development-plan/

 

 

 

Nominations for 2015 AMPAL board elections now open

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In accordance with the Australasian Music Publishers' Association Limited (AMPAL)
Constitution, nominations for the position of Board Director can be received up to 60 days
prior to the date of the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

The date for the 2015 AMPAL AGM is Tuesday 17 November 2015. Accordingly, nominations
for the position of AMPAL Board Director must be received by the Company Secretary by no
later than 5pm Friday 18 September 2015.

Details of nominees will be provided to all eligible full members prior to the AGM and in
accordance with the AMPAL Constitution. The Constitution is available at
http://www.ampal.com.au/ampal-constitution.

For a copy of the AMPAL board Nomination Form and to discuss your eligibility for
nomination, please contact the AMPAL Company Secretary, Matthew O’Sullivan, email
matthew.osullivan@ampal.com.au

Rights holders call for the protection of Australia's intellectual property

On the eve of the latest round of Trans Pacific Partnership discussions in Hawaii, a broad range of Australian rights holders, including AMPAL, have called on the Australian Government to ensure that the Partnership incorporates strong and rigorous intellectual property provisions.  The protection of intellectual property is essential for Australia's creative industries to continue making their contribution to Australia's cultural and economic life. 

According to the recent PwC report, The Economic Contribution of Australian Copyright
Industries 2012-2014 (available at http://www.copyright.org.au/acc_prod/ACC/News_items/Copyright_Industries_continue_to_be_a_significant_contributor_to_the_Australian_Economy.aspx), the industries:

  • Employed more than one million people - 8.7% of the Australian workforce

  • Generated economic value of $111.4billion - the equivalent of 7.1 % of Gross Domestic Product

  • Generated more than $4.8 billion in exports- equal to 1.8% of total exports.

 

Australian music industry calls for cross-portfolio Federal Government approach to funding the contemporary popular music industry

In a joint press-release by a number of peak bodies, the Australian music industry has called for the Commonwealth Minister for the Arts to assist in establishing a Federal, cross-portfolio taskforce dedicated to ensuring the future success of the contemporary popular music industry.

This follows the release of an Australian music industry statistical snapshot by Music Australia highlighting some of the challenges currently facing the Australian music industry (http://musicaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Australian-Music-Industry-Statistical-Snapshot.pdf).

The full press release is available here: http://www.amin.org.au/call-for-cross-portfolio/

Draft guidelines for the National Program for Excellence in the Arts released for public comment

The Australian Government Ministry for the Arts has released draft guidelines for the National Program for Excellence in the Arts for public comment.  The Program was announced in the 2015 Commonwealth Budget. 

The closing dates for comments on the draft guidelines is 31 July 2015.  More information is available at: http://arts.gov.au/nationalexcellenceprogram

This follows the referral to a Senate Committee for an inquiry into the impact of the 2014 and 2015 Commonwealth Budget decisions on the arts.  Under the 2015 Budget, the Australia Council for the Arts is standing to lose $104.7 million in funding over four years, some of which is to be reallocated towards the establishment of the National Program for Excellence in the Arts.  Screen Australia is also seeing its funding cut by $3.6 million over the same period.  This follows other substantial cuts in funding for the Australia Council and Screen Australia, and the arts more broadly, in the 2014 Budget. 

The closing date for submissions to the Senate Committee inquiry is 17 July 2015.  More information is available at: http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Legal_and_Constitutional_Affairs/Arts_Funding

Copyright Amendment (Online Infringement) Bill 2015 given Royal Assent

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The Copyright Amendment (Online Infringement) Bill 2015, introduced into the Australian Parliament by Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull, has been given Royal Assent and passed into law.  The legislation provides for a copyright owner to apply to the Federal Court of Australia for an order requiring a carriage service provider (e.g. an ISP) to block access to an overseas website that has a primary purpose of infringing or facilitating the infringement of copyright. 

APRA AMCOS CEO Brett Cottle AM noted:

“It will give to creative industries a means to fight back, it will assist in changing the behaviour of Australian consumers and, most importantly, it will send a powerful, practical and symbolic message to the artists and creators of Australia. 

“Australia's creative industries have been waiting for a very long time for Parliament to provide an expression of support and respect for their work and their place in the life of the nation."

Irwin Z. Robinson receives the 2015 ICMP Ralph Peer II Award for Outstanding Contribution to Global Music Publishing at Midem

The International Confederation of Music Publishers (ICMP) has presented Irwin Z. Robinson with the 2015 ICMP Ralph Peer II Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music Publishing. ICMP Chair, Andrew Jenkins, presented the award at a gala dinner held during Midem. The ceremony was attended by music publishers, collecting societies and senior industry executives from across the world.

Serving as the National Music Publishers' Association Board Member for over 40 years and as its Chairman for the last 30, Irwin Z. Robinson has been a key figure in a multitude of copyright and music licensing negotiations and initiatives. His unrelenting commitment to these issues has improved conditions for songwriters and independent and major publishers everywhere.

Robinson was also Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Famous Music Publishing, President and Chief Executive of EMI Music Publishing Worldwide and President of the legendary Chappell/Intersong Music Group.

On presenting the Award, Andrew Jenkins, Chair of ICMP said: "Irwin Z. Robinson has been involved in the music publishing industry for more than 55 years. He is universally admired and respected for his wisdom, leadership and passion in advancing the interests of songwriters."

"Instrumental in modernising the way music publishers work and extending catalogue and activities across a wide range of areas, Irwin brings energy, innovation and enthusiasm to everything he does," added Jenkins.

On receiving the Award, Robinson said: "It is always an honour to be selected by your peers as an individual who is worthy of any award. This award is very special to me because it represents recognition of my devotion to the global industry and my deep appreciation for all creators of music everywhere."

Ralph Peer II, chair and CEO of peermusic, and an ICMP Board Member said: "Irwin has been a colleague and mentor to generations of people in our industry as well as a trusted and loyal friend to those who have had the privilege of working with him."

"On behalf of ICMP and our publisher members everywhere, I would like to congratulate Irwin for his many years of work protecting and promoting the work of songwriters," added ICMP Director General Ger Hatton.

During the gala dinner, Robinson also received video messages from celebrated songwriters and performers including Linda Perry, Phil Galdston, Tia Sillers, and Brian Molko from alternative rock band Placebo.

"I wanted to congratulate you personally on your award. I feel that it is very, very well deserved and I also wanted to thank you for everything you have done for Placebo over the years and all the help you have given us in our career," said Molko in his tribute.

Robinson was selected from nominees submitted by ICMP member organisations in over 70 countries.

The Award, initiated by ICMP in 2013 and named after its first honouree Ralph Peer II, recognises visionaries in the field of music publishing, whose roles have helped develop, protect and value the music of composers and authors around the world.

European Commission's Digital Single Market Strategy launched

The European Commission's new Digital Single Market Strategy has now been adopted.  The Commission will undertake 16 key actions, under 3 pillars, over the coming 5 years.  The three pillars are (1) better access for consumers and businesses to digital goods and services across Europe; (2) creating the right conditions and a level playing field for digital networks and innovative services to flourish; (3) maximising the growth potential of the digital economy.  Key actions include legal proposals for a 'more modern, more European copyright law', including reducing the differences between national copyright regimes, looking at the role of online intermediaries in relation to copyright-protected work, and stepping up enforcement against commercial-scale infringements of intellectual property rights.  The Commission aims to deliver on its targeted actions by the end of next year. More information can be found at: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-15-4919_en.htm

Australian Copyright Council commissioned report on the economic contribution of the copyright industries released

The Australian Copyright Council has released the report it commissioned on the economic contribution of Australia's copyright industries from 2002 - 2014.  The report has found that copyright industries continue to comprise a substantial  proportion of the Australian economy. While the report takes into account the disruptive effects of digitisation, it states that copyright is a key piece of infrastructure that supports industries in a modern economy. 

In 2014, copyright industries contributed $11.4 billion to the Australian economy.  This is 7.1% of GDP and makes it the fourth biggest industry (up from 7th in a 2012 study).   

The full report is available here: http://www.copyright.org.au/admin/cms-acc1/_images/1355629560553d73e0a5427.pdf

Irwin Z. Robinson announced as recipient of the 2015 ICMP Ralph Peer II Award for Outstanding Contributions to Global Music Publishing

The International Confederation of Music Publishers (ICMP), of which AMPAL is a member, has today revealed the honouree for the 2015 ICMP Ralph Peer II Award for Outstanding Contribution to Global Music Publishing.  Irwin Robinson, who the ICMP notes 'is one of music publishing’s most respected and innovative leaders', was selected from nominees submitted by ICMP member organisations in over 70 countries.  The Award, initiated by ICMP in 2013, and named after its first honouree Ralph Peer II, recognises visionaries in the field of music publishing, whose roles have helped develop, protect and value the music of composers and authors around the world.  Robinson has served as both a National Music Publishers' Association board member for over 40 years and as its Chairman for the last 30.  Robinson also serves as Publisher Vice Chairman of the ASCAP Board, of which he has been a member for over 40 years, as a board member of The National Academy of Popular Music and as a custodian for The Songwriters' Hall of Fame.  Congratulations Irwin Robinson.     

Industry code to combat online copyright infringement lodged for registration

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The Communications Alliance has released the final version of the industry Code designed to help combat online copyright infringement, which will apply to approximately the largest 70 Australian Internet Service Providers (ISPs): http://www.commsalliance.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/48551/C653-Copyright-Notice-Scheme-Industry-Code-FINAL.pdf.  The Code has now been submitted for registration with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).  The Code is the product of an intensive development process by Internet Service Providers and a broad alliance of Rights Holders from the music, film, television and performing arts industries, following the request by the Federal Government in December 2014.  The Code creates a Copyright Notice Scheme through which residential fixed internet users who are alleged to have infringed copyright online will receive an escalating series of infringement notices designed to change their behaviour and steer them toward lawful sources of content.  The effectiveness of the Code will be independently evaluated 18 months after its commencement.