The future of music license?
Posted by stan from rogersville, TN, US on September 2, 2008

There is much concern about the increased music license prices that appears on the horizon. What looks like a negative is actually creating a positive. As the music industry becomes greedy and tries to gouge restaurants, health clubs, night clubs and the many other venues that have the audience, they have forgotten a key point.

That is where the masses are listening and instead of charging for a right to play their music, they should be paying to allow it to be paid in those venues.

Some brilliant minds are noticing this and with the creation of satelite TV and radio, it would not be so hard to purchase a satelite radio station that only plays artist music that want it to be heard and no license required. Cable tv stations that have programing that does not have a requirement.

Can you imagine what would happen if all restaurants, health clubs, night clubs told the music license companies, pay us or we will not play your music.

The increased prices that the music license company are charging is making restaurants, health clubs, night clubs, airport’s playing TVs, etc…. realize that they need us, worse than we need them.

Watch and see what is coming in the future, as there is a gold mine for the entrepreneurs that see what appeared as a negative turn into a positive.

In the future as these satelite stations become available who needs who will be realized.

Stan Pace

There is much conjecture on this issue, notably a Canadian government initiative to not only tax group exercise classes but to allow fees on music rights. This matter has come up before in our industry and we have always managed to defeat it. I think the author of this question has some good points (”satellite stations”, etc.) but personally I’m not sure which way this will go. - MSS

Aphelion
Posted by Shannon from Altoona, IA, US on July 29, 2008

Does Aphelion have a childcare check-in system?

Membership and operating ratios
Posted by Al from Marietta, OH, US on June 2, 2008

In an earlier question, you mentioned key membership and operatng ratios that can give an idea of successful operation (i.e., membership attrition, ave. dues paid, ave. initiation fees, revenue/sq. ft., revenue per s.f., revenue per member, member/s.f., cost of sale, payroll as a % of revenue, dues as a % of rev., operating expense as a percentage of rev., debt-equity ratio). Are there any industry standards as a comparative standard?

What is the best software
Posted by Jim from Moline, IL, US on May 17, 2008

For the money, which is the best affordable software that provides management with all of the information and tools to manage the facility and has various tools effective for retention purposes?

Club Management Software
Posted by Tom from Alexandria, VA, US on May 12, 2008

What are your top 3 recommendations for club management software?