The owner of Melbourne bar Hairy Little Sista has been ordered to pay $200,000 for playing music without paying for the licensing to do so. Kristine Becker and her company have infringed copyright laws by playing the music in two Melbourne CBD venues over the past several years.
Judge Julia Baird found Becker had “acted with disregard” towards the rights of musicians and ignored multiple attempts from the PPCA – the agency that collects royalties for musicians and performers – to contact her.
Watch: Bay City Rollers – “Saturday Night”
Ms Becker must now pay $185,000 plus damages on behalf of the company of which she is the sole director and shareholder. She must also stop playing the nine songs she received the fines for playing, the songs include classic tracks from The Beatles and Bay City Rollers. The full list of tracks can be found below.
The bar owner was not present in court when the judgement was handed down, after one final attempt to contact her. Baird was satisfied that Becker knew she was being sued after evidence of over 40 attempts at calling the accused, and “some 20 letters and 18 emails” since 2012.
Related: Licensing restrictions cause Sydney venue to cancel live music night
Earlier this year the same owner was caught up in allegations of underpaying and not paying employees. The United Voice union shared stories of several workers who were owed more than $3000 in unpaid wages, one of whom was subsequently fired after requesting the pay.
At the time Becker told ABC that she was trying to get it sorted, she has not responded to requests for comments on this new lawsuit. At the time of publishing, all of Hairy Little Sista’s social media accounts have been deleted, however the bar is still trading.
Check out the full list of songs the venue was charged for playing without licensing below:
“The Ballad of John & Yoko” — The Beatles
“Hooked On A Feeling” — Blue Swede
“Saturday Night” — Bay City Rollers
“T.S.O.P.” — Kevin Rowland & Dexy’s Midnight Runners
“Be My Baby” — Bay City Rollers
“Blow” — Blossoms
“Stockholm” — Atlas Genius
“Imaginadote” feat Daddy Yankee — Reykon
“Andy” — Last Dinosaurs
Watch: The Beatles – “The Ballad Of John & Yoko”
