Fee hikes to change Aussie club life?

Australian clubs fight fee levy from the national performing rights association.

The operations manager of the Caloundra RSL, Jim Darcy, said the club, which has 13 live music shows a week, would opt for bands that play overseas music instead of the home grown variety.

“We’d only employ people to do non-Australian music and that would be the end of the Australian music industry,” Mr Darcy said.

“You could forget about hearing Cold Chisel and Silverchair. And there’d be no Australian country music so you could forget about Keith Urban.

“I can’t see why they’re doing it. If they’re trying to kill the industry they’re going the right way about it.”

Internationally clubs are feeling the pinch from performance rights organizations, to the point that in certain venues bands are banned from playing covers. While I have no pity for cover bands, there is a comfort level associated with hearing familiar songs in your favorite watering hole.

On the other hand an opportunity does emerge for non-Australian acts to come into the scene. While they may not initially be a draw, the venue may be willing to take a risk on them as they won't hit them so hard in the pocket...