Ross Hope and Emma Carton
QLD Licensing Assistant & Queensland Writer Services Representative, APRA | AMCOS
Written by Yan Zhu on 2008-10-16
What do you see happening in the next five years in the music industry?
Ross: Firstly, I would like to see more enjoyable music. I would like see more venues for live music and performance, and more industry boards, such as small record labels in Brisbane as well. And I expect more interesting works from interstate labels in Brisbane.
Emma: I hope that more communities are opening. People can draft and write songs together. I would like to see more songs writing will happen between the people who would know each other. This would be a more open process for creating songs.
Ross: That is a good point. We projected to get involved in getting some writers to co-write songs which is really successful.
What are the biggest challenges you and your organisation face as a member of the Brisbane media community?
Emma: First of all, we are working in the different departments. The functional responsibility of my department is looking after writers, and making sure they get pay from their works. Perhaps the biggest challenge is we have to educate people, and make sure that song writers become members of APRA, and let them understand the processes. Because of a lot of people who join in APRA, and they don’t submit the forms for royalties. So, APRA needs to educate them a lot of things, and make sure they understand some industry rules, such as how long works.
Ross: The education is really important in licence. This business is for making sure they buy copyright and registration. In addition, making the members aware APRA is a place for education is very important. A lot of people who are outside Brisbane, they are out aware what APRA to do. That is really a big challenge.
What are the most important/valuable skills that graduates can bring to your industry?
Emma: I would probably say the graduate is coming up with let me know I want to join in the music industry. I think one of the biggest challenges is on-line services. Someone with the skills about the internet and services provided, I think these kinds of skills can help us so much.
Ross: Yes, I totally agree it. I feel the music industry is undergoing a rapidly changes, maybe everything is changed in ten years. And we tried to keep up with technologies changing in staffs. It is quite difficult. However, I still hope that the people have ability and skill that can talk to the public, it is very important.
How would you rate the performance of Brisbane-based media organisations in comparison to other national and international media hubs?
Emma: This is a much complex question.
Ross: Yes, it is a hard one. I’ve been at many different international hubs. But I think sometimes it is difficult to judge of Brisbane. Because of Brisbane is probably like Perth. It is little bit separate from Melbourne and Sydney. And sometimes we probably get forgotten, by passed by the music industry. But I think sometimes it can also bring some very interesting music communities of the different kinds of music to Brisbane. I think we did really well considering the resources and the kinds of people that we have here. We do not set big media organisations here like Sydney and Melbourne. But I think we have some interesting smaller companies in here.
Emma: APRA services all states including Tasmania. I think that we did quite well at performance around the country. We have four and half thousands members. We got many high quality performances.
How has new media such as the Internet and mobile communications revolutionised your workplace?
Emma: I have been here about two and half years. But when I went to a big conference before, there were some people who have been in this industry for 15 years. We have a database which has everyone’s details now. But several years ago, people needed to register pieces of paper for joining in. Some of them would go to stores and take it. It can be finished on-line now. It helps us provide more available services for the members. We provide on-line assistances for our members as well. For international business, we can check the people which groups they are in. For example, Michael Jackson, we can find him on the internet, and contact with that association which he is in. It is amazing.
Ross: Everything was on papers before. I think computers really help us much. And the internet is really a huge database for us. It helps us do research too well.
How has new media influenced the copyright issues in Brisbane?
Emma: I got a lot of calls about copyright every day. I think that people are more concerning about on-line copyright issues now. Because of it is availability of the sounds productions on-line. The rules are changed still slowly. But people can share productions on-line. It is a kind of scary. And people are obviously concerned more about it nowadays. How is yours?
Ross: It is hard to say how the new media influenced the copyright issues in Brisbane particularly.
Emma: I think the whole world is facing to this problem.
Ross: Yes, I think so. It seems a global problem. For example, MySpace has many videos and music productions. I think they are trying to set up some rules in there. I guess most countries have this problem. Technologies continue go so fast. The rules of copyright are changed slowly, and people always break into new ground with technologies.
How to protect the copyright of music creators in Brisbane?
Emma: The basic things are to follow what copyright advisors suggested, and to keep the quality of records. I think, do not give away copyright is an issue that is very important.
Ross: Totally right. For the copyright, I advise the members check the contrast carefully. Some musicians use lawyers to check contract. This is a great idea. How do you believe contrasts? How do you start writing a contrast? I think they are very important parts of copyright issue as well. Another issue becomes more and more important which is about band agreements now. If a band has already had fans, it is better to organise them before they may come to problems.