If we can license the skies, what is so hard about doing it on land? Fiji Performing Rights Association (FIPRA) chairman Eremasi Tamanisau asked this while speaking at the recent FIPRA 2023 Music Awards night where he highlighted the need to license all types of public transport vehicles that play protected music — be it over land, sea or sky.
He took the opportunity to plead with Home Affairs Minister Pio Tikoduadua for government assistance in strengthening the legislative requirements under the Copyright Act of 1999.
“It is interesting to note that while Air Pacific, now Fiji Airways, was licensed almost 20 years ago, the whole of land public transport is not licensed,” Mr Tamanisau said.
“So the question remains, if we can license the skies, what’s hard about our land.”
He said negotiations with both the Fiji Taxi Union and the Fiji Bus Operators Association reportedly began in 2004 and proposed rate at that time was of 10 cents per day for all types of public transport with the differentiator being the number of passengers.
Mr Tikoduadua said the Coalition Government had noted the submissions and pleas of the local music industry and was working on a solution to benefit all stakeholders. He said Government was aware of the struggles local artists were facing and was drawing up a plausible solution.
Natalie Raikadroka and Suliasi Uluilakeba were the biggest winners of the night with both scooping three awards each.
Paulini Curunenavuli was awarded the International Achievement Award while Meli and Finau Tuqota were both recognised for their outstanding service to Fijian music.
