THE Fiji Performing Rights Association’s recent proposal to licence the use of music in buses and taxis is currently in the works, says FPRA director Laisa Vulakoro.
“At the moment we’re talking with the Land Transport Authority and the Attorney-General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and we’ve been advised to carry out awareness first. So we’ve been doing that for the past year. I’ve carried out awareness work in Levuka, Labasa, Lautoka, Nadi and Suva,” she said.
“What we are proposing is for taxis and buses to pay 10 cents a day for five days a week for the use of music, both local and foreign songs. As per the Copyright Act, if you’re playing songs where you’re making money, you have a legal obligation to pay a licence fee.”
Ms Vulakoro said various hotels, banks, cruise ships, nightclubs and restaurants in the country paid a blanket fee to the organisation, which is then distributed as part of royalty to artists.
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