AGENCY FEES

That this House notes the importance of the role of agents in the entertainment industry and believes that artists should be able to access these services without fear of exploitation; welcomes the 2003 regulations which outlawed up-front registration fees, but is concerned that the exemption to allow agencies to publish their own books and to charge a fee to their clients in advance is ill-defined and often abused by agents; further believes that any fee charged by an entertainment agent should be a limited commission fee and that after any deductions, the relevant artist receives an hourly rate in excess of the national minimum wage; calls on the Government to consider classifying publication and directory services, such as Spotlight, Showcall and Castnet, as being distinctly different to personal managers or employment agents that actively find work; and further believes that entertainment employment agents of this kind should be licensed and be prevented from charging any fee to artists other than commission from work found.