China's new payment standard for karaoke program royalties is
expected to be released soon, sources with the China Audio and
Video Association (CAVA) and Music Copyright Society of China
(MCSC) said.
"Details of the standard are still being considered. We also
need to negotiate them with local entertainment associations," a
CAVA official told the Beijing News. He added the standard
would be released at the end of the month at the earliest.
One possible scheme was that, for the operators who had adopted
the charging system devised by the Ministry of Culture, four yuan
(54 US cents) would be the basic charge for the first 25 songs. For
every additional song, a 0.12 yuan charge would be levied. For
those who had not adopted the system, 10 yuan would be charged per
room per day.
"It is just one of the schemes we're considering," the official
told the newspaper. "It's very likely the standard will integrate
both charging by the number of rooms and program playing
times."
The charging system for karaoke program royalties was put into
use earlier this year in eight pilot provinces. It is expected to
launch nationwide next year.
The country's current standard is a 12-yuan charge per room per
day, according to a National Copyright Administration regulation
set last year.
According to the Cultural Market Development Center under the
Ministry of Culture, CAVA and the MCSC would be responsible for
collecting and charging karaoke royalties. They would also
administer karaoke venues along with local entertainment
associations.
(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily December 8, 2007)