APRA vs AMCOS: What Australian Businesses Need to Know

APRA AMCOS is the trading name used for the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) and the Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). APRA mainly administers public performance and communication rights in musical works, while AMCOS mainly administers reproduction rights.

For a business, this can include music played in a shop, restaurant, workplace, gym or other public setting. It can also include live music, broadcasts, streaming and copying, depending on the use.

The official APRA AMCOS overview explains which rights and music uses it administers.

APRA versus AMCOS

APRA mainly administers public performance and communication rights in musical works. AMCOS mainly administers reproduction rights. In simple terms, APRA is commonly relevant when music is performed, communicated, broadcast, or streamed, while AMCOS is commonly relevant when music is copied or reproduced. The exact licence depends on the business use, the repertoire, and the applicable Australian or New Zealand arrangement.

For a specific question, continue to the rights APRA AMCOS collects from businesses, how the fee is calculated, or whether a business music service covers APRA AMCOS rights.

If you only use MelloJam

If your business plays only MelloJam music through the MelloJam player, you are not using music from the repertoire covered by APRA AMCOS's licensing route. MelloJam's original catalogue and the commercial playback rights it controls are included in your MelloJam plan, so you do not need a separate licence from APRA AMCOS for the MelloJam playback itself.

A separate non-waivable venue charge can still apply where local law imposes one. Radio, television, Spotify, other recordings, live music, DJs, events, copying and online use are outside the MelloJam plan.

Back to all APRA AMCOS Australia licensing questions.