Soulfest Promoter Ordered To Pay $500K

The Federal Circuit Court in Sydney ordered John Denison, promoter of the Soulfest and Supafest festivals, to pay amalgamated royalties collector Australasian Performing Right Association and Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (APRA AMCOS) a total of A$500,000 ($376,390) in damages.

This was for A$437,000 ($328, 940) in compensatory and additional damages for infringement of the Copyright Act (1968) as well as A$70,000 ($52,690) in legal costs.

The case was over debts accumulated since 2014 for the two festivals and other tours, for which licensing agreements were not concluded. Denison, who now operates iLive Entertainment, did not appear in court and could not be reached for comment.

APRA AMCOS licenses more than 6,600 one-off events a year, and has 60 major event promoters licensed with it. Richard Mallett, the association’s head of revenue, said, “Venues, caterers and artists are able to withhold their services – but songwriters’ work cannot be withheld ‘after the fact.’ Their only recourse is to trust in the courts and their membership to APRA AMCOS, to protect their rights.”