Join as a writer
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Information here covers APRA and AMCOS membership available to songwriters and composers. Music publishers and music rights administrators (non-publisher) can find details on joining APRA and AMCOS here.
Your membership options
Depending on how your music is used, you can join just APRA or AMCOS or both APRA and AMCOS. What's the difference?
APRA represents performance and communication rights.
If your music is performed live, played in businesses, broadcast on radio or television or streamed on a commercial digital music service, we can license those uses on your behalf and pay royalties to you.
AMCOS represents ‘mechanical’ reproduction rights.
If all your music is published, your publisher will usually collect the mechanical reproduction royalties on your behalf, and you don't need to join AMCOS directly.
Find out what a music publisher does.
If you have unpublished music or manage your own mechanical reproduction rights, we can license the reproduction of your music into physical or digital formats for sale, streaming or download, and pay royalties to you.
Some territories overseas require individuals to set themselves up as a Publisher or use a third-party music service to collect 100% of mechanical reproduction royalties, but as an AMCOS member you do not need to do this.
Membership criteria
Who can join APRA?
If you write or compose your own songs, you may be eligible to join APRA. You'll also need to meet one or more of the following criteria:
- You or someone else performs your songs live OR
- Your songs are broadcast on radio or TV OR
- Your songs are available to stream online.
You can't join APRA if you're a member of an overseas Performing Rights Organisation.
If you're in a band, only the members who write or compose music need to join. Writer membership is on an individual basis and not open to companies, organisations or groups.
You can apply for APRA membership through our online portal.
Once you have received APRA royalties and your application for membership is approved by the APRA Board, you become a Writer Full Member, which entitles you to stand or vote in APRA Board elections and attend and vote at APRA General Meetings.
Who can join AMCOS?
Joining AMCOS is separate from joining APRA. You may want to join AMCOS if:
- You are a writer that is not represented by a music publisher and you own the copyright or control the mechanical reproduction rights in your music; or
- Your music has been reproduced for sale or streaming, e.g., available on a digital music service like Spotify or Apple Music, released as a physical product by a third party, or reproduced in a production music recording.
Every new AMCOS member begins as an Associate Member, with Full Membership available to writers and composers that have been AMCOS Associate Members for at least three years and received earnings in that period. Our team can assist with updating your membership at the appropriate time.
Associate Members and Full Members of AMCOS are paid the same royalties and receive the same services and member benefits from AMCOS. The only difference is that Associate Members are not eligible to stand or vote in AMCOS Board elections or attend and vote at General Meetings.
You can apply for AMCOS membership through our online portal.
Are you ready to apply?
As part of the application process, we'll ask you for:
- Personal details
- Email address
- Bank account for payments
- A few details about your music
- If you're under 18, the consent of a parent/guardian
Can't remember if you already joined?
You might just need to update your details, go to login to check.
Managing your APRA AMCOS rights: you have options
APRA AMCOS offers flexible options for managing your rights—you can choose to ‘opt out’ for certain music uses or ‘licence back’ one or more of your songs or compositions.
Frequently asked questions
Who can join APRA?
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 are broadcast on radio or TV OR
- Your songs are available to stream online.
You can't join if you're a member of an overseas Performing Rights Organisation. If you're in a band, only the members who write or compose music need to join.
Who can join AMCOS?
Joining AMCOS is separate from joining APRA. You may want to join AMCOS if you have unpublished works released on a recording for sale to the public or reproduced in a production music recording. You can join AMCOS if:
- You're a copyright owner of musical works;
- You don't already belong to an overseas mechanical rights organisation;
- At least one of your works is unpublished and has been commercially reproduced eg: available on a digital music service like Spotify or Apple Music, released as a physical product by a third party, or reproduced in a production music recording.
Publisher vs AMCOS
AMCOS has reciprocal agreements with other affiliated societies around the globe – meaning you reproduction royalties are collected worldwide.
Some territories overseas require individuals to set themselves up as a Publisher or use a third-party music service to collect 100% of reproduction royalties, but as an AMCOS member you do not need to do this.
If all your songs or compositions are published, your music publisher will collect your reproduction royalties, and there's no reason to join AMCOS. AMCOS is primarily a royalty collection service and does not play the role of a music publisher. Find out what a music publisher does.
Who can join as a publisher?
If you're a music publishing company who represents other writers’ catalogues, you can apply to be a publisher member.
We're here to help
We've got specialised departments to look after our members, licence enquiries, international affiliates, and more. Get in touch or send us a message using our department direct form.
