We represent over 119,000 members who are songwriters, composers and music publishers. We license organisations to play, perform, copy, record or make available our music, and then we distribute the royalties to our members, and to international affiliate societies who then pay their members.
The APRA Board and AMCOS Board are made up entirely of our members to ensure your voice is represented at the highest level.
We have a long and proud history of representing music creators in Australia.
The Australasian Performing Right Association Limited (APRA) was established in 1926 to manage the performance and communication rights of its members. We still do this today. Our licences cover music that is communicated or performed publicly including on radio, television, online, and live gigs.
The Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society Limited (AMCOS) was established in 1979 to manage “mechanical royalties”, that is, the reproduction or copying and storage of music in different formats. This covers copying of songs and compositions by record labels or other parties to sell them on CD, vinyl, DVD, online, for use as production music and for radio/TV programs.
In response to feedback from music creators and licensees that they'd rather deal with one organisation, in 1997, APRA and AMCOS partnered up. We now deliver a one-stop service to music creators and licensees.
There's another licensing organisation called Phonographic Performance Company of Australia Ltd (PPCA) that covers the broadcast, communication or public playing of music videos and recorded music.
To remove the need for separate licences from PPCA and APRA AMCOS, OneMusic was formed. It's now easier than ever to meet copyright obligations for the public performance of musical works, sound recordings and music videos. Find out more about OneMusic.
Today APRA AMCOS covers the rights and uses of music the original organisations took care of separately. We manage rights for both local and international songs, for the mutual benefit of music creators and licensees.
“APRA have been integral to what I’ve been fortunate to have achieved career-wise and supported me on a global level. I wouldn’t be able to travel the world writing, performing, collaborating without their belief and support from the beginning of my career overseas, to now."
"I first knew music could become a career when I got my first APRA royalty. That came in after I'd been playing pubs around Wagga, and I filled out the live Performance Reports."
“As composers and musicians we don't generally have a regular income, superannuation or holiday pay. APRA has sustained me with royalties throughout my musical career.”
What does APRA AMCOS do?
APRA AMCOS grants licences for the live performance, broadcast, communication, public playing or reproduction of its members’ musical works. APRA AMCOS then distributes the licence fees to its 119,000+ songwriter, composer and music publisher members and affiliated societies worldwide.
APRA AMCOS is the trading name of Australasian Performing Right Association Limited (APRA) and Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS).
What's OneMusic?
OneMusic Australia is an APRA AMCOS and Phonographic Performance Company of Australia Ltd (PPCA) joint licensing initiative launched 1 July 2019.
In Australia music creators generally authorise two organisations to administer their rights. APRA AMCOS (composers and music publishers) and PPCA (recording artists and record labels).
OneMusic Australia offers joint public performance licences so there's no longer any need for separate licence agreements and invoices from PPCA and APRA AMCOS. OneMusic Australia allows businesses to meet copyright obligations for the public performance of musical works and sound recordings more seamlessly.
Does APRA AMCOS offer any awards, grants or competitions?
APRA AMCOS is committed to supporting and celebrating the artistic excellence and commercial success of songwriters and composers across all genres.
There are several programs, grants, awards, competitions to help you build a thriving career in the music industry.
Who runs APRA AMCOS?
APRA AMCOS isn't a government body. We're a music rights management organisation run by an executive management team in liaison with a non-exective board of directors. Individual writer members and representatives of publisher members are elected to the board by their respective memberships for renewable three-year terms.
Where does the money from licences go?
For every dollar we collect, about 85 cents goes straight back to songwriters, composers and publishers as royalties. The remainder is used to administer these royalties.
As a music rights management organisation, after costs are covered the rest of the money is distributed (paid) to music creators. Our expense-to-revenue ratio compares very favourably to affiliated organisations providing the same service overseas.
We've got specialised departments to look after our members, licence enquiries, international affiliates, and more. Get in touch or send us a message using our department direct form.