Music copyright holders have asked Pattaya’s mayor to enter the ongoing dispute between record companies and entertainment venues over license fees.
Pattaya Music Association President and former City Councilman Banjong Banthoonprayuk met with Sonthaya Kunplome Oct. 24, asking in writing that he negotiate on the group’s behalf with the Provincial Commercial Office and copyright owners to resolve their long-running dispute.
In September, Banglamung District said it would act as a mediator between music-copyright holders and Pattaya-area bars and clubs. Apparently Banjong – who served with Sonthaya’s brother Itthiphol in city government – wants a friendlier face involved.
Banglamung organized a meeting earlier this month to address complaints by bars and clubs that collection agents – both real and fake – continue to pester them over paying just to play music in their businesses. Many times, bar owners complain, they’re being forced to pay multiple times for the same license.
Meanwhile, music companies claim they’re losing out on revenue legally guaranteed them and have threatened to sue entertainment venues.
Banjong earlier said copyright holders wanted to find an amicable resolution, admitting some bars had been paying fake agents for as many as 10 years.
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