The Phenomenon of Cafes Playing Nature Sounds to Avoid Royalties, LMKN: Bird Sound Recordings Also Have Rights

Kapanlagi.com - A unique phenomenon is emerging among public service businesses such as cafes and restaurants. To avoid the obligation of paying music royalties, some of them choose to play natural sounds, such as the sound of flowing water or birds chirping.

In response to this, the Chairman of the National Collection Management Institute (LMKN), Dharma Oratmangun, gave a surprising view. He stated that there is no obligation for a business to play music.

"It's fine, it's okay. There is no obligation to play music," he expressed when contacted by the media some time ago.

However, Dharma Oratmangun continued that this step does not automatically free them from all forms of copyright. According to him, recordings of natural sounds played commercially also have inherent rights associated with them.

"Now if they play bird sounds or any sounds, there are rights from the phonogram producers. The producers who recorded it have related rights. Rights to the recording material," explained Dharma.

1. Continue to Educate

This senior musician questions why there are still many business operators who find it difficult to pay for the rights to the works they use to generate profit. For him, respecting copyright is part of noble culture.

"So, why is it so hard to pay for someone else's rights? We need to educate the public about this. They make profits in cafes or wherever, but they don't want to pay for someone else's rights. That's not good," he said.

2. Easy & Non-Burdensome Payment Process

Dharma emphasizes that the royalty payment process is actually very easy and non-burdensome. He urges business operators to proactively register their use of musical works through the official LMKN website.

"My advice to them is that it's very easy to pay royalties. Just go to the LMKN website, there's an explanation there, just register, and you're in," he explained.

Even for live events, the rates charged are relatively light. "And the royalty payment for live events is only 2 percent of the tickets sold. There are rights involved there, and that's it," he concluded.

(kpl/aal/ums)