China's new payment standard for karaoke program royalties is expected to be released soon, sources with the China Audio and Video Association (CAVA) and Music Copyright Society of China (MCSC) said.

"Details of the standard are still being considered. We also need to negotiate them with local entertainment associations," a CAVA official told the Beijing News. He added the standard would be released at the end of the month at the earliest.

One possible scheme was that, for the operators who had adopted the charging system devised by the Ministry of Culture, four yuan (54 US cents) would be the basic charge for the first 25 songs. For every additional song, a 0.12 yuan charge would be levied. For those who had not adopted the system, 10 yuan would be charged per room per day.

"It is just one of the schemes we're considering," the official told the newspaper. "It's very likely the standard will integrate both charging by the number of rooms and program playing times."

The charging system for karaoke program royalties was put into use earlier this year in eight pilot provinces. It is expected to launch nationwide next year.

The country's current standard is a 12-yuan charge per room per day, according to a National Copyright Administration regulation set last year.

According to the Cultural Market Development Center under the Ministry of Culture, CAVA and the MCSC would be responsible for collecting and charging karaoke royalties. They would also administer karaoke venues along with local entertainment associations.

(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily December 8, 2007)