Fijian musicians have the potential to earn $10million annually if radio stations increased the amount of locally-produced music they broadcast over the airwaves, says Fiji Intellectual Properties Office head of Copyright Enforcement, Terence O'Neill-Joyce.
Broadcast media outlets pay a licence fee for the right to play songs composed by local artists. Each time a song is broadcast through radio, television or in public places such as hotels and restaurants — the owner of the song receives a payment.
Based on the number of local composers and the songs they have produced, Mr O'Neill-Joyce said $10m was the potential earning power for the industry.