Use music to keep registers ringing, but honor copyright, too, asks Filscap

THOUGH seemingly insignificant, music can help bring the desired effect to the workplace or retail space, an official of the Fil

ipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (Filscap) said.

Citing studies from the website Music Works For You, Filscap general counsel Mark Thursday Alciso said informal surveys showed that 90 percent of customers select a shop that is playing music while 72 percent find a shop playing music more inviting.

The survey further said that 60 percent of respondents spend more time in a store if they hear music that they like, 56 percent will try on clothes if music is being played, 55 percent said they will return to a store that plays music that they like while 23 percent said they are willing to pay five percent more the price of goods if a store plays music.

Alciso went on to say that background music affects the mood of consumers and the choice of products they pick in stores. He said slow or soft music encourages consumers to stay longer, fast music makes consumers consume faster and high volume music causes one to drink more.

As to the effect on employees, Alciso said music improves productivity in repetitive jobs and improves performance of physically demanding jobs. It also reportedly raises the morale of employees and improves their willingness to cooperate with another and be helpful.

With positive effects of music, Alciso acknowledged that many establishments want to play music, thinking all they need is equipment or performers. However, many do not know that playing copyrighted music also requires a public performance license.

Speaking at the Cebu Retailers Conference, one of the activities of Cebu Business Month, Alciso pointed out a provision of the Intellectual Property Code prohibits playing or performing of copyrighted music without the authorization of the copyright holder.

With this, Alciso said Filscap can help establishments become responsible by adhering to intellectual property laws instead of unlawfully playing music.

Because it can be virtually impossible to secure permission from all music copyright owners, Filscap, which is a member of the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers, acquires authorization rights of local and foreign copyright owners. After they acquire these rights, they now have the authority to issue a public performance license. Alciso said they currently hold the rights to some 90 percent of copyrighted songs.

Those who want to play music legally can acquire their licenses from Filscap.

For retailers, Alciso said rates differ on the size of the store. He admitted rates for Metro Cebu are cheaper than those in Metro Manila. For a 50-square meter space or less, a license would cost P 2,200 a year. Filscap offers a discount to members of the
Philippine Retailers Association, and they can get a license for P1,800 a year.

The fees go to royalties, administrative expenses and to a socio-cultural contribution used to fund projects promoting local music and talent.

Filscap president Noel Cabangon urged the public to support Filscap by acquiring their licenses, saying most composers rely on their works to pay for their daily expenses and that not all composers have made much over the years. “Not all royalties are big because not all works become hits,” he said. Cabangon said some of the funds are used to provide medical, calamity and funeral assistance to artists and help artists expand their reach.