Music industry body APRA AMCOS has hit back at Qantas following news that the airline has axed music from its inflight entertainment on domestic flights.
A Qantas spokesperson told The Music yesterday that the decision was made after a comprehensive review showed "on average less than ten percent of customers per flight were tuning into the radio and music channels".
APRA Chief Executive, Dean Ormston, has responded to the news, saying it is a blow to both the Australian music industry and Qantas customers.
"While programming of in flight content is a matter for Qantas, we are deeply disappointed that music, and Australian music in particular, will not feature on in flight entertainment on domestic flights," Ormston said in a statement given to The Music.
"In their role as the national carrier, Qantas have the opportunity to literally carry Australian stories in Australian voices to the world via their customers, and tell those stories to music loving Aussies as well. Australia is a music nation, and our year on year revenue stats show there is an increasing appetite for local music both here and abroad.
"The opportunities are endless - audio, video, podcasts, playlists, print, background music at departure gates, live music in the lounge - the key is focused curation across the brand. It’s a win/win/win scenario for Qantas, their customers and the music industry.
"It would be a shame not to reconsider this move, and the feedback we’ve received echoes that sentiment."
The news comes only a few weeks after Australian pop star Troye Sivan joined The Music Podcast, where he revealed his collaboration with fellow Aussie Gordi on his new album, Bloom, actually began after he heard the Sydney artist's music on a Qantas flight.
"I was on a Qantas flight and I fell asleep with the headphones on and it was like, Qantas radio or whatever, and I remember waking up from my sleep being like, 'Whose voice is in my ears right now?'" Sivan said.
"I didn't have internet so I was, like, trying to figure out what she was saying and write down lyrics so that I could Google it once I landed."
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