Will new PPCA music fees bring about a two-tier club system?

by Oliver Kitchingman | Monday, August 02, 2010

The Network Blog recently posted the topic ‘One word to describe the reality of teaching with PPCA free music – fine!’, which generated a considerable response. The comments made by numerous instructors, and the occasional participant, clearly illustrate the differing opinions about the issue.

The fitness industry has spent a huge amount of time, money and energy fighting the PPCA through the courts, in a bid to prevent the massive price hike from $1 per class to $15 per class. However, the music industry won, and the fitness industry has responded by moving, largely, to a PPCA-free model whereby many clubs are now using exclusively non-original-artist music.  ...read more

One word to describe the reality of teaching with PPCA Free Music - FINE!

by Ryan Hogan | Wednesday, July 07, 2010

For this blog post I am putting on my ‘instructor’ hat as opposed to my sales manager one. Working at Network has given me some great insights into the inner workings of how clubs are changing over to using PPCA free music – but being an instructor I have also experienced it personally.

Along with many of my colleagues out there who have been teaching for a long time, I have had to recently restock my entire music library in order to continue instructing. I must admit that when I first heard news of the PPCA’s plans to massively hike up the cost of using original music in classes, and then when the Tribunal hearing ruled in its favour, my reaction was of surprise and dismay at the thought of not being able to use most of the music I have collected over the years. But, as with everyone else, I immediately began researching where I could acquire this new ‘PPCA-free’ music and began to buy.  ...read more

Hot topic: Gym Waivers, Client Liability and Duty of Care

by Ryan Hogan | Tuesday, December 08, 2009

In the recent decision of Belna Pty Ltd v Irwin [1], the NSW Court of Appeal considered the duty of care owed by a gym operator to a client who suffered a serious knee injury while performing lunges as part of a program designed by an employee.

Facts
Ms Irwin dislocated her knee while performing lunges at a Fernwood gym. The exercises were part of a prescribed gym program formulated by a consultant of the gym and the incident occurred while Irwin attempted a lunge for the first time. Her leg gave way, she fell to the floor and was then taken to the hospital where it was found that she had dislocated her knee.   ...read more