Virgin Active transitioning to royalty-free music 1st April without membership consultation

stanblack

We have had the same issue at our VA gym. Dodgy re-commitment offer whilst avoiding information on music changing, which will drastically alter the experience. Shame on Virgin Active to treat the members, some of which have been active with the for decades with such contempt. Leaving freelance instructors to tell members at the end of the class its the last class with them, some members were visually upset. I have signed the online petition I urge everyone to - its on change.org . I also have been told by VA that they will release me from my contract if the new music ( which I am yet to attend a class for as they have no instructors haha) isn't to my liking. I think we should unite as members as stop our membership fees all on the same day, to show VA how we feel by treating them the same way they treated us. The online petition is over 1500 strong now - time for Martin Lewis to get involved?

surfboard2

I too signed the petition which they do not even have the decency to address.

Would also encourage people to leave reviews on trust pilot and their Head Office google business page.

The lack of regard they have for members and their freelance instructors is disgusting.

It's such a shame to see such great instructors leave over this and members who have become friends too.

 

KeithFit29

The Day The Music Died - email sent to Virgin Active

I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the recent music policy change implemented at the gym. While I understand the need for policies to evolve and adapt, the new requirement for instructors to use music solely from a specified playlist has had a significantly negative impact on the exercise experience for both instructors and visitors alike. It would have been good communications if you had alerted the members of the change of policy and the reasons for its implementation.

The playlist, as it stands, seems to primarily consist of bass techno and what can only be described as 3rd rate lounge music. This selection not only lacks the necessary rhythm and beat conducive to effective exercise but also lacks consistency, making it difficult for participants to maintain their workout intensity and flow.

As a dedicated member of your gym, I have always appreciated the effort put into creating an environment that promotes health and fitness. However, this recent change has left many of us feeling frustrated and disappointed. The music played during classes plays a crucial role in setting the tone and pace of the workout, and the current playlist simply does not meet the standards necessary for an optimal exercise experience.

Furthermore, both instructors and visitors have voiced their dissatisfaction with the new music policy. Many feel that their feedback has not been taken into consideration, and there is a growing sense of frustration and disillusionment among the gym community.

I urge you to reconsider this music policy change and allow instructors the flexibility to choose music that best suits the needs of their classes and participants. By doing so, you will not only improve the overall exercise experience but also demonstrate your commitment to listening to and valuing the feedback of your members.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my concerns. I look forward to a resolution that prioritises the needs and preferences of the gym community, before I and others look elsewhere to find the experience, we previously enjoyed at Virgin

mrbspin

I can’t speak for Virgin but, at most other chains, it’s the instructor that pays for the PPL licence for the right to play music and we pay per class. If we don’t pay directly out of our earnings, pay rates will be lower than other gyms anyway so we pay indirectly. It used to be an annual fee per person until PPL decided to fleece the fitness industry. 

So it’s not the club trying to profit from it; they’re just making a blanket rule and sticking two fingers up at PPL, who will lose a substantial amount of revenue. The trouble is that members suffer and instructors hate it because PPL-free music is medieval torture to anyone who likes music.

Altocumulus9

It’s a very unpopular decision amongst members

oraldoc69

This is from an instructor’s perspective- having resigned from Virgin  2 weeks ago because the royalty free music is largely unusable, elevator worthy and unsuited for teaching purposes I can now see with my own eyes how freelance instructors are taken for granted, and used as an excuse for Virgin’s decline and self destructive situation and worst of all subject to their head office’s dismissive, contemptuous and tyrannical attitude - to the point where instructors are afraid of voicing any opinion that give rhe management any reason,  however flimsy, to sack them!? 

MissFrustrated

I'm an Instructor working for a rival gym but can inform that it is not just VA but also other gym facilities that are (or will soon be) following the same stance.

The company I work for were recently taken over by another name and last year, us instructors were informed that although the previous company took care of PPL in our classes, this would soon change, whereby we were 'encouraged' to 'try out' a Royalty Free music platform, that was tested out by the company I work for.

This April ('coincidentally' 1st April), we were sent over an 'Agreement' outlining three choices in terms of music usage which we all had to sign.  The first choice was to use the Royalty Free music platform that was 'recommended' by the company.  The second option was to use Royalty Free music by a 'reputable' company that states this or the third option was to continue using original artists music but the Instructor would have to declare this.  Instructors caught playing original artists mudic and not declaring this, would not only face a fine but also disciplinary action.

I have also found out that like VA, that another 'well known' gym is following suit and, was given a heavy hint that the very gym company I work for would 'most likely' follow suit next year (my money's on the 1st April 2025).  By then the Instructors could be faced with only two choices :

(a) to play the company's 'recommended' Royalty Free music using the app paid for by the company; or

(b) play Royalty Free music by an acceptable Royalty Free Music company, with the instructor showing written evidence that the music they are using in their classes is indeed a Royalty Free purchase from a Royalty Free fitness music company.

I honestly cannot see (past April next year) that we Instructors at the fitness company, they I work foe, would be allowed to play anymore 'original artists' music - even if we were prepared to pay for it from our wages.

Though the company I work for is not yet at the stage that VA's at, the majority of Instructors are far from happy, as we feel as if we are being being forced down this road.  Like the Instructors at VA, we too spent a hell of lot of hours and time putting together our class playlists, choosing the music that are known to our class participants, the music reflective of our own individual personalties, the participants having a say as to which songs they liked included in the playlists etc. 

Many of us havE worked in the fitness industry for many years.  Private clubs granted, have had this Royalty Free Music rule for many years but not across the board of (what looks like) all fitness facilities.

Even at this stage, there ate already a lot of  Instructors that have left or gone and started their own classes independently. Not so easy to do so  if you are a Spin or an Aqua Instructor. 

From an Instructor's perspective, we too have argued on staff group chats to management and to Head Office, voicing our discontentment about this change of music policy at the gyms, resulting in some heated arguments but to no avail.

It is out of our hands as fitness Instructors and yes, participants can vote with their feet and go to a rival gym that still plays original music but I can only add that as this has happened to VA (and I am told another well known fitness facility has followed suit), it will eventually be the case of wherever you go, the same Royalty Free music stance will reach each fitness facility.

Having seen what's happened, the fault isn't so much with the gyms but in fact with PPL/PRS as they are the ones that since post Covid, they have increased the music license prices substantially to the point, that fitness clubs and leisure centres, have reached the decision not to allow original music to be played at the facilities anymore.  Indeed PPL/PRS do make spot checks at fitness facilities which again strengthens the various fitness clubs arguments to discontinue the use of original artists music in the classes. 

I recently contacted PPL/PRS as to whether ffitness Instructors could independently apply for a licence to play original artists music at their classes and I was advised by them that Instructors contracted by a fitness facility cannot independently apply for a license as the only ones allowed to apply for a license are the fitness clubs themselves! 

WPU_King

I think gyms really miss a trick with music. I walked into my usual Total Fitness motivated as usual, only to be assaulted by Take That being played.