Hong Kong Recording Industry Alliance
Encyclopedia
Hong Kong Recording Industry Alliance Limited (HKRIA) is a not-for-profit copyright
management organization, formed to handle copyright issues for recording companies regarding the broadcast, public performance and relevant usage of sound recordings (recorded music) and music videos in Hong Kong
, Macau
and other territories. The founding companies include EMI Group, Sony Music, Universal Music (環球) and Warner Music Group
(華納), dubbed the Big Four Recording Companies (四大唱片公司). The group was established in October 2008. Later in December 2010, BMA Entertainment (博美) joined HKRIA, turning the Big Four into the Big Five.
(Hong Kong) on 20 August 2008. They then assigned management of copyright, public performance and other related issues exclusively to HKRIA. On 21 December 2010, BMA Entertainment announced its new membership turning the "Big Four" into "Big Five" (五大唱片公司).
tax
to TVB
, the dominant local free over-the-air station, in which many of the current cantopop
singers had artiste contracts with. The fees were raised for three reasons.
TVB was not satisfied with the fee and began to ban singers from the big four companies from appearing on their programming. Singers Hacken Lee
, Eason Chan
and Kay Tse
, voiced their opinions in support of their respective record labels. In the past, Hacken Lee was often dubbed as "TVB's son" due to his close working relationship with the TV station. However both him and Eason Chan were immediately pulled from their appearances on TVB's Jade Solid Gold
and the 21st CASH
Songwriter's Quest within days of the controversy. Prudence Liew
, signed under the Universal label Cinepoly Records
, was quickly dismissed of her hosting duties from the TVB singing competition The Voice
, a program she has hosted weekly since July 2009, three episodes shy of the season finale.
As a result of the ban, no artists from HKRIA record labels received any awards at the TVB-organized 2009 Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Music Awards Presentation
held on January 16, 2010. Singers affected included many frontrunners of the night: Universal Music's Eason Chan, Hacken Lee, Kay Tse, Hins Cheung
and Mr.
; Warner Music's Fiona Sit
and Khalil Fong
; and Sony Music's Jason Chan. In support of their record labels, none of the artistes signed to HKRIA record labels showed up to the TVB awards ceremony.
Beginning in 2011 the Metro Radio Hits Music Award Presentation became the only complete award to allow singers from all companies.
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
management organization, formed to handle copyright issues for recording companies regarding the broadcast, public performance and relevant usage of sound recordings (recorded music) and music videos in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
and other territories. The founding companies include EMI Group, Sony Music, Universal Music (環球) and Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
(華納), dubbed the Big Four Recording Companies (四大唱片公司). The group was established in October 2008. Later in December 2010, BMA Entertainment (博美) joined HKRIA, turning the Big Four into the Big Five.
History
As the founding members of HKRIA, the Big Four Recording Companies, Sony Music, Warner Music, EMI Music and Universal Music withdrew their membership from IFPIIFPI
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry is the organisation that represents the interests of the recording industry worldwide. It is a not-for-profit members' organisation registered in Switzerland...
(Hong Kong) on 20 August 2008. They then assigned management of copyright, public performance and other related issues exclusively to HKRIA. On 21 December 2010, BMA Entertainment announced its new membership turning the "Big Four" into "Big Five" (五大唱片公司).
TVB
On December 24, 2009 HKRIA held a press conference in regards to increasing the royaltyRoyalties
Royalties are usage-based payments made by one party to another for the right to ongoing use of an asset, sometimes an intellectual property...
tax
Tax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
to TVB
Television Broadcasts Limited
Television Broadcasts Limited, commonly known as TVB, is the second over-the-air commercial television station in Hong Kong. It commenced broadcasting on 19 November 1967...
, the dominant local free over-the-air station, in which many of the current cantopop
Cantopop
Cantopop is a colloquialism for "Cantonese popular music". It is sometimes referred to as HK-pop, short for "Hong Kong popular music". It is categorized as a subgenre of Chinese popular music within C-pop...
singers had artiste contracts with. The fees were raised for three reasons.
- Value of the singers were underestimated before.
- TVB is broadcasting more music contents than before.
- To meet TVB's increase of music use, the raise will grant users one year of unlimited license use. The royalty price per year is to exceed HK$10 million.
TVB was not satisfied with the fee and began to ban singers from the big four companies from appearing on their programming. Singers Hacken Lee
Hacken Lee
Hacken Lee Hak Kan is an award winning Hong Kong based Cantopop singer and lyricist, actor, Master of Ceremonies and Association football sportscaster.-Early years: 1985-1995:...
, Eason Chan
Eason Chan
Eason Chan Yik-shun is a prominent male singer in Hong Kong's music industry. Undoubtedly one of the most dominant male singers in the post-1997 era of Hong Kong music industry. Eason Chan has been praised by Time magazine as a front runner in the next generation of Cantopop...
and Kay Tse
Kay Tse
Kay Tse is a Hong Kong Cantopop songwriter, recording-artist, entertainer and one of the premier Cantonese singers.Raised In Hong Kong, China. Tse made her debut to the music industry and was signed with Ban Ban Music in 2005 and released her debut album. She became a prominent figure in the...
, voiced their opinions in support of their respective record labels. In the past, Hacken Lee was often dubbed as "TVB's son" due to his close working relationship with the TV station. However both him and Eason Chan were immediately pulled from their appearances on TVB's Jade Solid Gold
Jade Solid Gold
Jade Solid Gold is a music show on the TVB Jade television channel. It has been running since October 10, 1981.-TVB HD Jade:**Thursday at 6:00am to 6:30am**Thursday at 6:00pm to 6:30pm...
and the 21st CASH
Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong
The Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong Ltd. is a copyright society in Hong Kong which aims to administer and enforce collectively the rights of composers and authors of musical works subsisting under the copyright law of Hong Kong SAR. Its motto is: "Protect Copyright - Let Creativity...
Songwriter's Quest within days of the controversy. Prudence Liew
Prudence Liew
Prudence Liew Mei-Gwan is a multi-platinum selling Hong Kong pop singer and Golden Horse Award winning actress, having released 14 studio albums and appearing in numerous films.-Career start:...
, signed under the Universal label Cinepoly Records
Cinepoly Records
Cinepoly Records is a Hong Kong-based record label founded in 1985. It was a subsidiary of PolyGram Records and the film company Cinema City. Ownership of Cinepoly Records switched to Universal Music Group after Universal acquired PolyGram Records in 1998 and albums are now distributed by...
, was quickly dismissed of her hosting duties from the TVB singing competition The Voice
The Voice (Hong Kong singing competition program)
The Voice 超級巨聲 is a Hong Kong reality show style singing competition broadcast by TVB, and also selects Hong Kong's representative to the New Talent Singing Awards International Finals. It is unrelated to the singing competition franchise, The Voice of Holland.The first season was presented by...
, a program she has hosted weekly since July 2009, three episodes shy of the season finale.
As a result of the ban, no artists from HKRIA record labels received any awards at the TVB-organized 2009 Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Music Awards Presentation
2009 Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Music Awards Presentation
The 2009 Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Music Awards Presentation was held on January 16, 2010 at the Kowloon Hong Kong Coliseum. It is part of the Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Music Awards Presentation series.-Special situation:...
held on January 16, 2010. Singers affected included many frontrunners of the night: Universal Music's Eason Chan, Hacken Lee, Kay Tse, Hins Cheung
Hins Cheung
Hins Cheung is a Cantopop singer and songwriter in Hong Kong. He studied and graduated from the Guangzhou City 7th Secondary School. He is now under contract with Universal Records.He is 175 cm tall. In 2008, he performed at the S.U.C.C.E.S.S...
and Mr.
Mister (band)
Mister also known as Mr. is a Cantonese rock band composed of Desmond Tam, Tom To, Alan Po, Ronny Lay and Quincy Tam on the guitars. The vocal duties are performed by Po, with backing vocals provided by Tam....
; Warner Music's Fiona Sit
Fiona Sit
Fiona Sit Hoi-Kei is a female singer and actress from Hong Kong.-Biography:Fiona Sit attended Island School and studied Creative Media in City University of Hong Kong until 2004...
and Khalil Fong
Khalil Fong
Khalil Fong was born on 14 July 1983. He is an American born, Hong Kong-based soul Mandopop singer-songwriter signed to the Warner Music Hong Kong.-Biography:...
; and Sony Music's Jason Chan. In support of their record labels, none of the artistes signed to HKRIA record labels showed up to the TVB awards ceremony.
Beginning in 2011 the Metro Radio Hits Music Award Presentation became the only complete award to allow singers from all companies.
See also
- Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)Recording Industry Association of AmericaThe Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...