Reynolds was angered by what he dismissed as entirely misleading reports in the media that the Stradbally Hall Estate three-dayer was at risk of having an injunction taken out against it by the Irish Music Rights Organisation, who claim they’re owed €432,000 in back royalties from a number of POD events including the Picnic.
“The Electric Picnic 2008 is not in doubt or in jeopardy,” Reynolds stated, before elaborating on the nature of the wrangle. “POD Concerts is in dispute with IMRO over certain issues relating to the high fees charged by IMRO to it for ‘public performance’ of music, which are in addition to the fees paid to the artists to perform. IMRO is seeking to charge POD Concerts for performances from non-music artists involved in the Electric Picnic.”
With what he estimates is over a third of the Electric Picnic bill devoted to non-musical attractions like Fossett’s Circus, the Lucent Dossier Vaudeville Cirque, Pussy Parlure, Temple Of Truth and the Comedy, Film, Leviathan and Hot Press Chatroom tents, which are all part of an extensive Spoken Word area, Reynolds feels that the event shouldn’t have to pay the same 3% flat fee levy as totally music-oriented festivals.
“POD Concerts have been in longstanding discussions with IMRO about the issues, however IMRO has recently chosen to issue proceedings rather than mediate the disagreement,” Reynolds argued. “IMRO had previously refused payment from POD Concerts of the amounts now in dispute. IMRO has not sought an injunction against Electric Picnic 2008 or any other music events promoted by POD Concerts pending a decision in the case.
“In the meantime,” he added, “the High Court has agreed with POD Concerts’ offer to pay the disputed fees into a holding account, and POD Concerts has confirmed that it will pay IMRO’s fees for Electric Picnic 2008 and so will be fully entitled to stage the event.”
For their part, IMRO preferred not to comment, a spokesperson telling Hot Press that they were happy to let the case take its course in the High Court.
Hot Press understands that the POD Concerts/IMRO dispute is being closely monitored by UK promoters who want their own royalty collection agency, the PRS, to link fees to the percentage of musical acts on the bill.
“It could have immense implications for the music industry internationally,” one top UK promoter told us.
Meanwhile, the good news for John Reynolds is that the Picnic is now a total 32,500-capacity sell-out.