US National Music Publishers' Association CEO discusses issues with digital streaming services

In a recent interview with Bloomberg, David Israelite, CEO of the US National Music Publishers' Association, discussed current issues in the US with digital streaming services.  Watch the interview here: http://www.bloomberg.com/video/digital-music-streaming-are-songwriters-getting-ripped-off-19A898LbSLK6V8yAMS~G8Q.html

Music Australia Program for 2015

Music Australia has now published its program of events for 2015. The program can be found here: http://musicaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Music-Australia-Program-2015.pdf.

Music Australia is a fifty member not-for profit national umbrella body representing all aspects of Australian music. It is the only organisation in the country devoted to music in its entirety with activities spanning education, community and the professional industry.

 

New Director Elected at AMPAL Annual General Meeting

Jaime Gough was elected to the Board of Directors of AMPAL at the AGM on Thursday 13th November. Also re-elected were Matthew Capper, Clive Hodson, Ian James and Damian Trotter. Matthew Capper and Clive Hodson were subsequently reappointed as chair and deputy chair respectively.

Jaime Gough is General Manager at Native Tongue Music Publishing (Australia), an independent music publisher with offices in Melbourne, Auckland, London and Los Angeles.  After completing a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) and Bachelor of Business (Management) at Monash University, Jaime started working in the family business as Copyright and Royalties manager from the company’s inception in 2004, before becoming Creative Manager in 2007 where his role evolved to include A&R, Licensing and International catalogue management.  Jaime recently spent almost 4 years based in London expanding Native Tongue’s operations in the UK, Europe and US markets.  Prior to joining Native Tongue Jaime worked for music licensing company Mana Music and prior to that at Mayday Management representing The Go-Betweens, Mia Dyson, Renee Geyer and David Bridie.  Jaime has served on the board for non-profit youth music organization The Push.

Music Talks - limited places still available!

 Music Talks Is a new series of talks, seminars, and panels and discussing topical issues in music. They are future focused with many geared to the independent sector. All feature expert presenters and speakers, and each targets a particular professional audience.  Panel sessions include a skilled Chair with expert speakers, moderated discussion, and questions from the floor.

 Music Copyright – the Artist and the Internet

 Our second Music Talks seminar takes a look at Copyright. We are delighted to present Music Copyright – The Artist and the Internet sessions in Brisbane, Melbourne and  in Sydney, each presented with local partners.
 About the Seminar:
This Q&A/Panel Discussion looks at the latest developments to enhance protection for composers and creators from their content being used on the internet without authority. Our expert panel explains what is happening here and overseas, unpacks the terms involved, and answers your questions. Attend this seminar to understand what a ‘safe harbour’, a ‘takedown notice’ and ‘web blocking’ is, and the copyright issues involved for musicians and music makers.

Brisbane Session

Date: Tuesday 18 November 2014
Time: 6.00 – 8.00pm
Location: River City Labs
Presented By: Music Australia in association with QMusic
 
Brisbane Panel:

  • Chris O’Neill – Panel Chair, National Team Leader – Writer Services APRA AMCOS
  • Vanessa Hutley – General Manager, Music Rights Australia, Music Rights Advocate
  • Rick Chazan – Manager, GROUNDCONTROL Music Management (AUS)
  • Matt McCormick – McCormick Lawyers

This session is free to attend, More information here. Bookings are essential.  Register to Attend.

 Sydney Session

 Date: Wednesday 19th November 2014
Time: 4.00 – 6.00pm
Location: Erskineville Town Hall
Presented By: Music Australia in association with Music NSW

Sydney Panel:

  • Michael Smellie – Chair, Music Australia, Panel Chair
  • Vanessa Hutley – General Manager, Music Rights Australia
  • Lindy Morrison – Artist
  • Fiona Phillips – Executive Director, Australian Copyright Council

Tickets to the event talk are $20 with refreshments provided, free to Music Australia members. More information here.   Bookings are essential.  You can book here.

 The Music, The Artist and The Internet - The Latest in Digital Rights

 Melbourne Session
Date: Friday 14th November 2014
Time: 2.40 – 3.40pm
Location: The Arts Centre Melbourne, 100 St Kilda Rd
Presented By: Music Australia and Face the Music

This lively discussion brings together users, artists and experts to look at the future of digital music rights in Australia. The Government’s recent Online Infringement discussion paper is a hotbed for discussion for rights advocates and artists who want the right to choose how their music is used, and those who make their living from composition or recorded music.  From the latest developments for composers and right holders, to artists wanting to know more about sampling to media and users who want to understand fair dealing, we've got you covered. We'll explore and demystify copyright as our expert panel explain developments here and overseas, unpack the terms involved, and answers your questions.

Melbourne Panel:

  • Nicholas Jones – Tone Deaf: Moderator
  • Vanessa Hutley – General Manager, Music Rights Australia, Music Rights Advocate
  • Frank Rodi – Deputy Director Writer Services, APRA AMCOS
  • Ben O'Hara – Head Of Music Business, Box Hill Institute / Business Writer thebiz.com.au
  • Artist - To be announced

This session is open to delegates to the Face the Music Conference.  Registration is essential. You can register for the conference here.

 

New UK Exceptions to Copyright

A number of new exceptions to copyright have come into force in the UK over the past few months, most notably for publishers in the areas of education, private copying, and parody. These exceptions are similar to exceptions already in place in Australian Copyright Law.

The UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has issued guidance notes on these changes and how they will affect consumers, educators, creators and rights holders. The notes can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-copyright-law.

Certain exceptions only apply if the use of the work is a ‘fair dealing’. There is no statutory definition of fair dealing - it will always be a matter of degree and interpretation in each case. In general though, if the use of a work acts as a substitute for it, causing the owner to lose revenue, then it is not likely to be fair.

National Music Teachers Mentorship Pilot Programme Launched

The Minister for the Arts, Senator George Brandis and the Minister for Education, Christopher Pyne have announced $594,000 in funding for a new national music mentorship programme to bring high quality music mentorship to classroom teachers across Australia.

The National Music Teachers Mentorship Pilot Programme was developed in consultation between the Australian Government, the Australian Youth Orchestra and Mr Richard Gill OAM. It will be hosted by the Australian Youth Orchestra who will utilise their connections within the music and education sectors to deliver the programme.

Commencing in classrooms in February 2015, the programme will run for three years and establish mentoring partnerships between professional music educators and generalist classroom teachers with the goal of enriching music education in primary schools and engaging students in a quality music education.

The positive academic and social impact of a quality school-based arts education has long been recognised with many demonstrated positive impacts, including on academic achievement, school attendance and social cohesion.

The official media release can be found here: http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.au/Mediareleases/Pages/2014/FourthQuarter/20October2014-LaunchOfTheNationalMusicTeachersMentorshipPilotProgramme.aspx

2014 Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition Deadline Extended!

The cut off time for entries for the 2014 Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition – the largest charity songwriting competition in the world – has been extended for a further four weeks and will now close on Friday, 24 October, 2014.

 AMPAL is proud to co-sponsor the competition.

The Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition is one of the world’s most prestigious songwriting competitions in the world, supporting talented songwriters whilst raising much needed funds for music therapy that has been proven to help people with developmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Rett Syndrome and Angelman Syndrome and disabilities such as Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Dyspraxia and Spina Bifida.

 The competition is open to songwriters worldwide with each applicant paying an entry fee of A$50.00 per submission with money raised going directly to supporting Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia.  To date, the Vanda & Young Song Competition has raised over $485,000 for NRMTA over the past three competitions.

Submissions on the Government's Copyright Discussion Paper Released

Attorney General George Brandis

Attorney General George Brandis

Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull

Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull

Submissions to the online copyright infringement discussion paper issued by the Attorney-General, George Brandis, and the Minister for Communications, Malcolm Turnbull, have been made available. The submissions, including the submission made by AMPAL, can be found here: http://www.ag.gov.au/Consultations/Pages/OnlineCopyrightInfringement-PublishingSubmissions.aspx. The original discussion paper paper can be found here: http://www.ag.gov.au/Consultations/Documents/Onlinecopyrightinfringement/FINAL%20-%20Online%20copyright%20infringement%20discussion%20paper%20-%20PDF.PDF

AMPAL to co-sponsor the 2014 Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition

VandaYoung 3.jpg

Once again AMPAL is sponsoring the $10,000.00 second prize for the Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition.

The winning songwriter/s will take home a cash prize of $50,000 and join the illustrious company of past Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition winners – Megan Washington (2009), Kimbra (2011) and The Preatures (2013).

This unique charity fundraising songwriting competition is the largest of its kind in the world. It supports emerging songwriters and uses the power of music to help people with developmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Rett Syndrome and Angelman Syndrome and disabilities such as Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Dyspraxia and Spina Bifida.

All proceeds go to Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia.

Please visit www.apraamcos.com.au/vandayoungsongcomp  to enter for more information and terms and conditions.

Entries for the Australian Children’s Music Foundation’s Songwriting Competition 2014 Opens

The Australian Children’s Music Foundation’s (ACMF) National Songwriting Competition is an initiative to encourage creativity and self-expression through songwriting. AMPAL is one of the sponsors of the competition. It is a free entry annual competition for every Primary, Secondary and Specific Purpose School, across Australia. More info on the competition can be found here:

http://acmf.com.au/songwriting-comp/national-songwriting-competition/

acmf logo 1.png

Digital Content Guide Launched

The Digital Content Guide has now been launched. It is a guide to help consumers find the creative content they want easily and quickly. The new website sets out a range of entertainment content that is available online from licensed sources in Australia. The Digital Content Guide facilitates access to licensed online entertainment services including TV and movies, music, eBooks, games and sport. The service is free and is available for desktop and portable devices.

The Digital Content Guide can be found at http://www.digitalcontentguide.com.au/. 

London Police to replace ads on copyright infringing websites with warnings

The Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) at the City of London Police has begun replacing advertising on copyright infringing websites with official force banners, warning the user that the site is currently under criminal investigation.

More info can be found here: http://www.cityoflondon.police.uk/advice-and-support/fraud-and-economic-crime/pipcu/pipcu-news/Pages/Advert-replacement.aspx

Nominations Open for the AMPAL Board

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 2014 AMPAL AGM is Thursday 13 November 2014. Accordingly, nominations for the position of AMPAL board director must be received by the company secretary by no later than 5pm Sunday 14 September 2014.

 Details of nominees will be provided to all eligible full members prior to the AGM and in accordance with the AMPAL constitution. You can read the constitution 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 matthewosullivan@hotmail.com.

Major ISPs, Industry Trade Associations and the UK Government come together in Anti-Priacy Campaign

Consumers in the UK found to be downloading copyright-infringing content will be sent warning letters as part of a new initiative between ISPs and content creators.

Representatives from the UK's creative industries and major internet service providers ISPs have come together with the support of the UK government to launch Creative Content UK, a new partnership that will boost consumer awareness of the wide array of legitimate online content services and help reduce online copyright infringement. The full story can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-education-programme-launched-to-combat-online-piracy

ICMP to force closure of unauthorised piano files site

Following the mass letter writing campaign carried out by ICMP with prominent music publishers from around the world, and the subsequent meetings with ICMP’s Anti-Piracy Committee (as represented by the Music Publishers Association UK), the operators of the copyright infringing sheet music website ‘pianofiles.com’ have announced that the site will be shut down.   Building on this significant breakthrough, ICMP’s Anti-Piracy Committee is currently working on next steps regarding various other coordinated actions at a global level.