11.05.2025 22:31
The Turkish Musicians' Rights Organization has started collecting copyright fees from wedding halls in accordance with the provision regarding copyright payments for music broadcasts in public areas. Accordingly, the annual copyright fee for weddings is set at 6,500 Turkish lira, while the copyright fee to be paid for a single wedding is 65 Turkish lira.
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The President of the Turkish Musicians' Rights Organization (MESAM), Recep Ergül, announced that the period for collecting copyright fees for music played at weddings has begun.
According to the article in the Law No. 5846 on Intellectual and Artistic Works, the Turkish Musicians' Rights Organization (MESAM) has started collecting copyright fees from wedding halls for music broadcasts made in public areas.
AGREEMENTS HAVE STARTED TO BE SIGNED
In this context, the President of the Turkish Musicians' Rights Organization (MESAM), Recep Ergül, conducted inspections at wedding halls in Avcılar. An agreement was signed between a wedding hall that did not make copyright payments and MESAM.
6,500 LIRA ANNUALLY
In statements regarding the new application, Ergül said, "I personally carry out the operation regarding wedding halls to avoid any disruptions in the field. The reason for our visit today is to determine whether music is being played in this wedding hall or not. We have confirmed that music is being played, and we will not impose any fines on them. We only request the copyright for the music they play. This copyright amounts to 65 lira per wedding, totaling 6,500 lira annually. We calculate based on an average of 100 weddings per year," he said.
"NOT APPLIED FOR 74 YEARS"
Ergül also stated: "We do not enter into square meter calculations. If we did, since live music is played, it would result in a higher fee. To prevent wedding halls from being disadvantaged and to allow hall owners to make comfortable payments, we request 6,500 lira annually. Now, the 'Law No. 5846 on Intellectual and Artistic Works' gives this authority to MESAM. It states, 'Go and collect the rights of your members, the lyricists, composers, and arrangers.' However, although this law has been in practice for 74 years, it has not been effectively enforced until now."
"THE ADDRESSEES ARE WEDDING HALLS"
Because first, the focus was on digital radios and televisions, and only now has it come to wedding halls. The reason we are here today is this. Soon, we will also present our gifts to the bride and groom. There is a misconception in the public that this will impose an additional burden on the bride and groom. It will never impose a burden. The parties involved are not the bride, groom, and their families. The parties involved are the owners of the wedding halls. They will pay this annual copyright fee of 6,500 lira. The bride and groom will not pay.
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