Using music online

Who is APRA AMCOS? 

APRA AMCOS represents over 124,000 members who are songwriters, composers and music publishers. We license organisations to play, perform, copy, record or make available our music. We then distribute royalties to our members and international affiliate societies. 

We administer the performing and some of the reproduction rights in most of the world’s commercially released songs. Our licences cover the communication (the right to play online or broadcast) and reproduction (the right to copy) of musical works.  

How does OneMusic fit in? 

OneMusic is a joint music licensing initiative between APRA AMCOS and Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA), the body responsible for administering rights related to sound recordings.  

OneMusic grants licences to ‘publicly perform’ music – such as when music is played out loud in a public setting, such as a shop, clinic, gym, café, bar, hotel, or at an event.  

However, if you’re using music online – such as live streaming an event or streaming music via your website, you may need an APRA AMCOS licence for that online use. In addition, if you are using a sound recording that is not your own creation, you will need to obtain permission from PPCA or the owner of the sound recording, which is usually the record label. 

Why do I need a licence? 

Under the Australian Copyright Act (1968) gives songwriters, composers, and music publishers have the right to control how their music is used. Whenever music is played or performed publicly, made available online or copied, that music use almost always requires a licence. 

When it comes to music that APRA AMCOS controls, we’ve done the hard work for you, so you don’t have to contact the owners of each piece of music you wish to broadcast, stream, download or copy. 

Can I use APRA AMCOS’ music in my social media post?  

APRA AMCOS has licences in place for the communication of our music on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok. These licences allow you to upload content containing our music to users on those platforms. Of course, you will still need to ensure your activity complies with the platform’s terms and conditions, as your content is subject to the platform’s take down rules. 

The streaming of pre-recorded or saved audio-visual recordings of our music on these platforms may require other, additional licences, from the owners of the copyright in both the musical work and the sound recording (such as a synchronisation licence). APRA AMCOS can assist you to find the relevant copyright holders. 

Alternatively, AMCOS offers licences for “Production Music” which is music written and recorded specifically for the synchronisation or dubbing into audio and audiovisual productions. More information about Production Music licences can be found here APRA AMCOS 

 Do a need a licence for Live Streaming events and concerts?  

If you are live streaming events, seminars or concerts which include music represented by APRA AMCOS via your own website or platform that is not otherwise licensed by APRA AMCOS (i.e. not a major social media site), a separate licence is required.  

This licence allows you to include APRA AMCOS’ musical works in your live stream, as well as make a recording of your live streamed event available for users on-demand for up to 7 days after the initial live stream of the event. Please contact us at [email protected] if you require a licence for live streaming of events or concerts 

Note that you will still need to clear synchronisation rights for the musical work and sound recordings with the relevant copyright owners directly. 

Do a need a licence for using music on my business website? 

Streaming music or podcasts containing music represented by APRA AMCOS directly from your website (not via embedded links) will require a licence. For more information about APRA AMCOS’ online licences – see APRA AMCOS.  

Again, if you are looking to using a sound recording that is not your own creation on your website you will need to obtain these rights from the owner, usually the record label .   

Some OneMusic licences include coverage for the use of recorded musicou (being both the musical works and the associated sound recordings of those works) in OneMusic Australia’s repertoire as a background stream on the OneMusic licensee’s business website. If have an existing OneMusic licence and you want discuss adding coverage for website use – please contact OneMusic here - Contact  

What are my other options?  

Direct licensing is an alternative available to you. You don't have to go through APRA AMCOS to legally play or copy music. You can deal directly with the songwriters or publishers who own the rights. For more information regarding dealing directly – please see here - https://www.apraamcos.com.au/music-licences/music-licensing-explained/dealing-directly-with-copyright-owners 

Contact Us 

For more information, please visit our website or contact us via email at [email protected] to discuss the licence that is right for you.