Today, hundreds of professionals associated with The Event Managers Association (TEMA) came together to protest against the way the authorities of The Phonographic Performance Ltd. (PPL) and the Indian Performing Right Society Ltd. (IPRS), currently function. This hour long protest was held near South Taluk office in Coimbatore.

PPL and IPRS are non-profit bodies that are authorised by the Supreme Court. These two bodies are formed by a consortium of music companies, artists, music directors and composers. PPL uses 15 per cent of its revenue for its administrative purposes. The rest 85 per cent is paid as royalty to music owners. The court has issued a ruling that charges can be fixed by the PPL and IPRS. However, event managers and party planners are not happy with the way the authorities of the PPL and IPRS function.

“When the authorities of PPL and IPRS get the news of a party being hosted, they deliberately reach the venue just hours before the party is scheduled to begin. They make huge demands for money to be paid as royalty and then negotiate. We are uncomfortable with the PPL and IPRS authorities visiting the party venue at the last minute,” says an Coimbatore-based event manager who did not wish to be quoted.

Seconding him is another event manager, Netaji Raj who adds: “We don’t want to question authority or authenticity as we may land up with a defamation case against us. We are only requesting the PPL and IPRS authorities to make their rules clear and avoid last minute harassment and threat. We are ready to abide by the constitutional copyright act, provided it is transparent, reasonable and uniform.”

TEMA also made demands that the PPL and IPRS bring down the rates that they charge to match the current market conditions. Another demand that was made through this protest is that the PPL and IPRS authorities must correspond directly with the event managers.