About APRA
The Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) administers and licenses the public performance and communication of musical works, ensuring music creators can be paid when their songs and compositions are performed live, broadcast, streamed, or played in business or other public settings.
APRA represents more than 128,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers across Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and other Pacific territories.
What Music Rights Does APRA Represent?
APRA manages the public performance and communication rights of musical works. This includes licensing for:
- Live performances of music in venues and at festivals
- Music used in radio and television broadcasts
- Music used in businesses like restaurants, retail, gyms and workplaces
- Digital performances via streaming platforms and online services
Who can join?
If you write or compose your own songs, you may be eligible to join APRA. You'll also need to match one or more of the following criteria:
- You or someone else performs your songs live OR
- Your songs have been broadcast on radio or TV OR
- Your songs are available to stream online.
Once songs are registered, members are entitled to receive royalties when their music is performed at venues, or via broadcasts or online streaming. APRA songwriter and composer members can also apply for AMCOS membership if they are unpublished and their works are reproduced (e.g., CDs, vinyl, digital downloads, sheet music).
You can apply for both APRA and AMCOS memberships at the same time (no fee to join), or join AMCOS later.
If you’re a music publisher, you’re encouraged to review the criteria ahead of applying.
If you are unsure about your membership status, you can log in to the Writer Portal or check your status. If you successfully log in, go to My Account >> My Membership.
APRA publisher and writer members are paid quarterly for their domestic and monthly for international royalties.
Financial snapshot
In Financial Year 2025 (1 July 2024-30 June 2025), APRA collected revenue of $521.3m - an increase of 7.8% year-on-year, and surpassing $500m for the first time.
APRA Board
The APRA Board is elected by full APRA members, ensuring members’ voices are represented at the highest level. APRA’s directors bring expertise from across the music and rights management sectors, guiding APRA management in strategy, governance, and advocacy.
- JENNY MORRIS OAM MNZM - (Chair) Non-executive Writer Director
- DAMIAN TROTTER - (Deputy Chair) Non-executive Publisher Director (Sony Music Publishing Australia)
- LINDA BOSIDIS - Non-executive Publisher Director (Mushroom Music)
- MARK CALLAGHAN - Non-executive Writer Director
- BURKHARD DALLWITZ - Non-executive Writer Director
- JAIME GOUGH - Non-executive Publisher Director (Concord Music Publishing ANZ)
- ANDREW JENKINS - Non-executive Publisher Director (Universal Music Publishing)
- HEATH JOHNS - Non-executive Publisher Director (BMG Australia)
- SIMON MOOR - Non-executive Publisher Director (Kobalt Music Publishing APAC)
- BIC RUNGA - Non-executive Writer Director
- CAITLIN YEO - Non-executive Writer Director
- JONATHAN ZWARTZ - Non-executive Writer Director
APRA History
In January 1926, six music publishers gathered in Sydney with a simple belief – that songwriters and composers deserve to be paid when their music is performed.
That principle became the foundation of APRA, and today it supports a community of more than 128,000 music creators from Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world.
Over the following century, APRA expanded its licensing network, strengthened creator advocacy, and supported the growth of the music industry across Australia and New Zealand.
Today, APRA, as part of APRA AMCOS, provides a comprehensive framework for global rights management, music licensing and royalty distribution, advocacy, and industry support. APRA enables businesses – from streaming music services to broadcasters, concert promoters and an array of businesses – to legally use music while ensuring creators are paid.
APRA proudly supports a suite of creative opportunities and educational programs including SongHubs, SongMakers, Regional Sessions, professional mentoring and more to support members’ career development.
Resources
Find out more about the basics of APRA membership in the Resources section.
