Spears sparks lip-synching debate in Australia
Last Updated: Friday, November 6, 2009 | 1:03 PM ET
CBC News
As Britney Spears prepares to begin a series of concerts in Australia, a local debate is raging over whether lip-syncing should be disclosed to ticketholders by law. (Matt York/Associated Press)Even before the curtain has risen on the Australian leg of Britney Spears' Circus tour, the U.S. pop performer has already become embroiled in a local furor over lip-synching.
A debate about entertainers who lip-synch or mime their performances to pre-recorded music has broken out, tied to Spears arriving Down Under for a 15-concert stint beginning with a pair of shows in Perth on Friday and Saturday.
After reports emerged that Spears would be lip-synching in her tour's shows — for which ticket prices range from $97 Aus. up to $1,475 for VIP seating — even the government has weighed in on the debate.
New South Wales Fair Trading Minister Virginia Judge has suggested that a law be enacted to impel performers who use pre-recorded music in their performances to carry a disclaimer on their tickets and not be allowed to bill the performances as "live."
Australians will not tolerate a "Mickey Mouse performance," Judge told Sydney's Daily Telegraph, referencing the singer's stint on the The All New Mickey Mouse Club TV show as a child.
"Let's be clear — live means live," said Judge, who is also the minister assisting the premier on the arts.
"If you are spending up to $200 Aus., I think you deserve better than a film clip."
'Let's be clear — live means live...If you are spending up to $200, I think you deserve better than a film clip.'
—Virginia Judge, NSW Minister
Consumer groups have argued that not disclosing lip-synching in concerts equates to misleading advertising. Fans deserve to know what they were paying for, says Consumer Affairs Minister Tony Robinson of the Victorian Legislative Assembly.
"We believe it is good business practice for concert promoters to make it clear to consumers before they buy tickets whether the performer will be miming, and make this clear on advertising, posters and other promotional materials," he told the Herald Sun.
Promoter defends Spears
Spears concert promoter, Steve Dixon, has defended the singer's shows.
"This is a pop spectacular, this is a showband show," he said. "You come for the experience."
Opposition politicians have attacked the government for its attention to Spears rather than other, more significant issues.
"This is what the joke is today — that a government is focusing on an issue that really doesn't affect the majority of people on a day-to-day basis," said New South Wales MP Anthony Roberts.
The Circus tour will also take Spears to Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide.
