NEW DELHI: With plummeting record sales, Phonographic Performance Ltd (PPL) feels they are charging under reasonable limits for the music content to the radio industry.

Says PPL CEO Vipul Pradhan, "Almost all the content that the radio plays is music and we are charging only Rs 660 per needle hour, which I feel isn't excessive by any means. The price was set by the government and I, myself, am complaining about the rates fixed. If I were to set a rate for my content, it would be no less than Rs 2,400 per needle hour."
Pradhan says that the Association of Radio Operators of India (AROI) is acting like a shopper in Palika Bazaar trying to buy an article worth Rs 100 for Rs 50, not even realising that the marked price is beyond reasonable.

Complains T-Series president marketing, media and publishing (TV) Vinod Bhanushali: "Because of the music that's been made available to general public by the radio fraternity, our sales have been dropping. Unlike the TV stations which play only a portion of the songs, the radio stations play the entire thing. The royalty rates is fixed, whether the content comes from T-Series or from any other sources."

The government has fixed Rs 660 as the tariff in 2001 and that the rates haven't been revised since, adds Pradhan.

Reacting to Radio Mirchi's $1 million (Rs 40 million) offer of free commercial time (FCT) to music companies for campaigning against piracy, PPL feels that such a drive will not carry much weight.

Calling the Radio Mirchi's offer of FCT as a media gimmick, Pradhan says, "No one has so far contacted us regarding the offer. Just making a public statement is not enough. If the radio station is serious about its offer, they should come forward and talk to us and get whatever they're looking for from individual music companies."

He thinks that the radio industry may have some ulterior motive to the FCT statement made at the Ficci Frames. Perhaps it is a means of pressurising the government to allow them to air current affairs and news content.

Talking about piracy related issues, Pradhan feels that a more educated action was required from all the bodies involved.