§ Mr. Ronald Brownasked the Secretary of State for Defence what procedure exists in the Army to protect Army bandsmen from being used by the director of music for recording sessions at reduced fees and the finished product being leased to record companies for substantial royalties; and to whom such royalties would accrue.
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§ Mr. Robert C. BrownRecordings by military bands are treated as private fee-earning engagements. Band funds are a part of regimental funds, and these accounts are kept by an officer—other than the Director of Music/Bandmaster—nominated by the commanding officer. The recording fee and income resulting from the sale of recordings accrue to a band fund in accordance with a contract agreed between the regiment and the recording company. Such income is credited to the band fund and profits are distributed on a percentage basis to the musicians who performed in accordance with rules laid down in Army regulations.
§ Mr. Ronald Brownasked the Secretary of State for Defence what advantages accrue to the director of music in an Army band who includes one of his own compositions in the repertoire to be recorded by the band for a recording company; what advantages are gained by the bandsmen; and what advantages are gained by the band or regimental funds.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownThe allocation of payments to composers in respect of rights payable under the law of copyright is a private matter between the composer and the Performing Right Society.
§ Mr. Ronald Brownasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in the Official Report each occasion in 1974 and 1975 when Army bands undertook recording sessions; what were (a) the musician's fees paid to the band, (b) the director of music's fees for conducting, (c) the director of music's percentage of fees paid to the band, and (d) what percentage of the fees payable to the band was deposited into band or regimental funds.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownIt would take a disproportionate amount of effort to list the large number of occasions in which Army bands have undertaken recording sessions over two years. Fees for these engagements are distributed in accordance with the scale laid down in Army regulations.
§ Mr. Ronald Brownasked the Secretary of State for Defence on whose authority Army bands are allowed to perform for record companies; on how many occasions they have recorded for record com- 760W panies in which directors' of music have either a direct or family interest; and how is such an interest registered.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownArmy bands are permitted to undertake this type of engagement when not required for duty engagements on the authority of their commanding officer. Army regulations governing involvement with business interests whilst still serving apply to directors of music. I am not aware of any occasion on which an Army band has recorded for a record company in which the director of music has either a direct or family interest.
§ Mr. Ronald Brownasked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total establishment for directors of music in all Commands of the Army; how many are in post; what are their ranks; and what are their present pay levels.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownThere are 31 directors of music in the Regular Army, in the ranks of one lieutenant-colonel, nine majors and 21 captains. Directors of music of the rank of captain and major on appointment are paid an annual salary of £4,775. This salary increases by approximately £80 annually for each year of service up to six years. Thereafter this salary increases by £80 approximately every two years until the total of 16 years' service in the rank is achieved when the maximum salary is £5,661 per annum. A director of music of the rank of lieutenant-colonel is paid on appointment an annual salary of £6,742. This salary increases by approximately £79 every two years until a total of eight years' service in the rank, or 25 years' overall service, is achieved, when the maximum salary is £7,457.