Zumba shakes the weight of PPCA royalties

Zumba Fitness has announced the exemption of its Zumba Instructor Network (ZIN) music from the hefty royalties of the Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA).

As the fitness and recreation sector across Australia awaits the expected rate rise in music licensing rates from PPCA, Chief Executive Officer of Zumba Fitness, Alberto Perlman, said Zumba's original productions and royalty-free-covers offered gyms and fitness centres an economical alternative.

Perlman explained "Zumba Fitness offers what we call the Zumba Instructor Network (ZIN) - a system comprised of the most committed Zumba instructors from around the world. The Network provides instructors with access to a range of original Zumba music and royalty-free-covers - exempting gyms from the heavy licensing fees of PPCA.

"Zumba music is created by some of the world's greatest musical talent - Grammy award winning producers who have fashioned music for internationally renowned artists. It is fresh, original and energetic - combining Latin flavour with international zest."

Perlman said Zumba charges no licensing fees to clubs but advised owners and managers to be diligent about sourcing the right instructors to ensure they are using Zumba Instructor Network music, adding "some Zumba instructors choose to use their own compilations to teach Zumba classes -meaning they are liable to fees from the PPCA.

"I strongly encourage facility owners and managers to ensure that any Zumba classes they are running are using royalty-free music provided by ZIN."

The Zumba program has taken the world by storm with more than six million participants taking Zumba classes every week and is rapidly becoming the single most influential movement in the fitness industry. Burning up to 1000 calories per hour long session, the program offers interval training with fast and slow rhythms and choreographed routines.

Perlman concluded "the Zumba movement currently spans six continents including the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia, basically, the entire world has been caught up in the Zumba Fitness-Party. Based on hypnotic Latin beats and rhythmic dance, Zumba is a fun and effective way to get fit - the fact that our ZIN music is royalty-free is yet another benefit of the Zumba lifestyle."

Click here to contact Zumba via their entry in the Australasian Leisure Management Supplier Directory.

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