Need to know: Gigging and Live Performance Royalties
Have you heard about live performance royalties?
We break down what they are, where they come from, and how you can earn them
Members need to a) register their songs and b) submit their setlists in order claim live performance royalties
If you perform your original music live in pubs, clubs, cafes and open mics, you could be earning live performance royalties.
Live performance royalties are a really important source of income for members who perform live, on top of ticket sales or a band fee.
Full Flower Moon Band perform at Great Southern Nights 2025. Credit: @usbenthem
What are live performance royalties?
Every time your original music is performed in public, it can generate royalties.
Cafes, pubs and other live music venues pay a licence fee for the use of live music to OneMusic. The pool of those royalties are then distributed to members who perform live music and submit their Performance Reports.
What's a Performance Report?
A Performance Report is a digital form you submit to APRA AMCOS that tells us:
- Which songs you played
- Where you played
- When you played
Think of it as submitting your setlist to APRA AMCOS.
Without it, we can't connect your registered songs to your performance. Therefore - live performance royalties won't flow.
Learn more about Performance Reports here.
Why should I submit Performance Reports?
Live performance royalties are a reliable and important source of income for many of our gigging members.
So far this financial year, 8,062 of you have submitted 173,344 setlists, which is 3,277,000 individual songs.
"Who wouldn't want a surprise bonus put into their bank account every few months! Our songs are our IP and that IP has value." - Danielle Lamb
Photo: Randwick City Council
"I always submit my songs and setlists because it's quick, and it provides money and recognition for work you've already done." - Kayps
Photo: Kia Bako
"I think it’s pretty cool that Australia has a system that recognises that original live music is a service and that artists should be compensated for their creative work." - Alice Cotton
Photo: Grace Giblin
How do I submit a Performance Report (setlist)?
This useful step-by-step video explains how to submit your Performance Reports in the APRA AMCOS app
Get the APRA AMCOS App - Easier than ever!
ICYMI - we have an app! It's super easy to submit Performance Reports straight after the gig. Psst, you can also register works, view earnings and change any account details in the app. Get it for free from the App Store or Google Play. Just use the same login details as you use for the Writer Portal.
Performing overseas? You can also submit Overseas Performance Reports for shows you play outside of Australia. Learn more here.
Performing covers? Include them in your Performance Report so that the songwriter can also earn live performance royalties.
When to submit? Best to do it as soon as possible after you perform.
To summarise...
Remember: register all your songs with APRA AMCOS, and submit your Performance Reports (setlists) to ensure the flow of live performance royalties.
If you know someone who gigs regularly, please also remind them to join APRA AMCOS and submit their setlists.
Happy gigging!
