Join as a music publisher or music rights administrator (non-publisher)

APRA and AMCOS Membership for music publishers and music rights administrators (non-publisher)

APRA and AMCOS are separate organisations that each administer different types of music rights. 

As a music publisher or music rights administrator (non-publisher), you can apply to become a member of either APRA or AMCOS, or both. 

Find out more about reasons to join. 

Information here covers APRA and AMCOS membership available to music publishers and music rights administrators (non-publisher). Songwriters and composers can find membership information here. 

We're here to help – reach out to us using this form: Contact us and get answers to frequently asked questions here: Browse FAQs. 

Publisher Full Membership

Publisher Full Membership of APRA is available to music publishing companies that meet the following criteria: 

1. You are a bona fide music publishing business in Australia, New Zealand and/or a South Pacific Nation. A “bona fide music publishing business” means a business that:
   1. has ownership of, is assigned or exclusively licensed from a composer or an author the copyright subsisting in a minimum of one musical (or musical and literary) work (“musical work”) which has been reproduced and commercially released or exploited;
   2. carries out as its primary or principal day-to-day activities:
      1. direct administration of copyrights subsisting in the musical works it owns and/or controls, including but not limited to:
         • the registration of the copyright details with APRA and AMCOS; and
         • the issuing of statements and the making of payments of royalties and fees to the relevant composers and/or authors;
      2. direct management of the various rights in the musical works it owns and/or controls including but not limited to the reproduction rights and performing rights; and
      3. direct licensing the use of the musical works it owns and/or controls to third parties;
         and
   3. has engaged the services of a person who is actively involved in managing the business’ ongoing day-to-day music publishing activities in Australia, New Zealand and/or a South Pacific Nation.
2. You have a signed music publishing agreement with a minimum of one composer and/or author who is a member of APRA.
3. Your signed music publishing agreement includes a clause recognising the prior and/or subsequent assignment of performing rights by the composer and/or author to APRA.
4. You have a local bank account located in Australia, New Zealand or a South Pacific Nation.
5. You have a Certificate of Registration of a Business Name or Company Number from ASIC or the NZ Companies Office, which must match the company or business name on your application.

How to apply for APRA membership

To begin your membership application, please complete the enquiry form. 

Our team will make an initial assessment and be in touch. If your initial assessment is successful, we will send you an application form to complete and return. Correctly completed applications go to the APRA Board for approval, usually each quarter.

Full Membership

Full Membership of AMCOS is available to a music publisher that has been an AMCOS Associate Member for at least three years, received earnings for that period and meets the following criteria:

1. You are a bona fide music publishing business in Australia, New Zealand and/or a South Pacific Nation. A “bona fide music publishing business” means a business that:
   1. has ownership of, is assigned or exclusively licensed from a composer or an author the copyright subsisting in a minimum of one musical (or musical and literary) work (“musical work”) which has been reproduced and commercially released or exploited;
   2. carries out as its primary or principal day-to-day activities:
      1. direct administration of copyrights subsisting in the musical works it owns and/or controls, including but not limited to:
         • the registration of the copyright details with APRA and AMCOS; and
         • the issuing of statements and the making of payments of royalties and fees to the relevant composers and/or authors;
      2. direct management of the various rights in the musical works it owns and/or controls including but not limited to the reproduction rights and performing rights; and
      3. direct licensing the use of the musical works it owns and/or controls to third parties;
         and
   3. has engaged the services of a person who is actively involved in managing the business’ ongoing day-to-day music publishing activities in Australia, New Zealand and/or a South Pacific Nation.
2. You have a signed music publishing agreement with a minimum of one composer and/or author who is a member of APRA.
3. Your signed music publishing agreement includes a clause recognising the prior and/or subsequent assignment of performing rights by the composer and/or author to APRA.
4. You have a local bank account located in Australia, New Zealand or a South Pacific Nation.

You have a Certificate of Registration of a Business Name or Company Number from ASIC or the NZ Companies Office, which must match the company or business name on your application.

If you were admitted to AMCOS membership under the above criteria, have been an Associate Member for at least three years and earned AMCOS royalties in that time, our team can help update you to a Full Member at the appropriate time.

How to apply for AMCOS membership 

To begin your membership application, please complete the enquiry form. 

Our team will make an initial assessment and be in touch. If your initial assessment is successful, we will send you an application form to complete and return. Correctly completed applications go to the AMCOS Board for approval, usually each quarter.