A major national KTV chain has jacked its prices up by 50 per cent, shortly after the introduction of a music copyright fee.

Xinhua News Agency reported that prices at Party World in Beijing had increased, for example the price of a mid-sized room on a weekend increasing from 235 yuan (US$29) to 330 yuan (US$41).

However, a source at Party World denied that the charge was related to the new fee, saying it was due to a service and equipment upgrade.

But a consumer surnamed Xu said he did not feel the club was any different now, apart from the prices.

China's KTV clubs will have to pay music and video copyright owners a fee worth 12 yuan (US$1.5) per room per day, the National Copyright Administration announced on its website yesterday.

Wang Ziqiang, spokesman for the National Copyright Administration, pointed out that KTV clubs should pay the copyright fees, not consumers.

"The previous KTV price should have included the copyright fee and KTV operators should not raise prices for consumers," he said.

Representing copyright owners, the Music Copyright Society of China and the China Audio-Video Collective Management Association submitted the draft of the KTV copyright fee rule to the National Copyright Administration for approval.

KTV clubs are required to pay the fee once a year to cover copyright for music and music videos, sources said.

The National Copyright Administration is soliciting advice and complaints from the public until September 20.

Industry insiders said that the price hike at Party World, one of the leading companies in the field, will very possibly make more KTV clubs hike their prices as well.

But sources with Shanghai Culture and Entertainment Industry Association said KTV clubs in the metropolis were not planing to increase their prices.

According to Wang Ziqiang, major KTV clubs in China have paid the Music Copyright Society of China for using music in the past.

Sources with the society said it collected 60 million yuan (US$7.4 million) every year, Xinhua News Agency reported.  

The amendment to the Copyright Law in 2001 made music video works protected by law as well.

Many entertainment companies have sued KTV clubs over videos since then, but no judgements have been reached.

Editor: Yan