New fees for use of music

Television and radio stations will have to pay royalties on the use of Chinese music under a regulation being drafted by the State Council.

Under the current system, broadcasters pay a flat annual fee to the copyright holder for use of local music.

The new regulation would install a fee of 2.5 yuan ($0.4) and 0.3 yuan per minute for television and radio stations respectively, said a National Copyright Administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity.