In addition to schools, universities, and TAFEs, Australia's education landscape includes a range of private and/or independent education and training providers. These institutions offer a variety of courses and programs, from higher education to vocational training and skills development.
APRA AMCOS, together with PPCA and ARIA, have developed the Education and Training Providers Music Licence to ensure these institutions are appropriately licensed for the use of music in their classrooms, on their campuses and at their events.
Copyright law in Australia grants exclusive rights to the creators and owners of creative works, including music. Understanding and adhering to copyright law is essential for education and training providers because the use of copyright protected musical works, lyrics and sound recordings without permission, or a licence, can constitute an infringement of copyright.
Music is a unique element in the educational sector as its use is not limited to learning or the classroom. Educational institutions use music in a variety of ways, whether it be playing music at a graduation or other student event, providing background music across campus facilities, live streaming events that include music, or creating training videos with an accompanying soundtrack, all of these activities typically require the consent of copyright owners (that is, a licence).
The Education and Training Providers Music Licence has been developed to provide a simple and comprehensive way for education and training providers to obtain permission to use the vast majority of the world’s music.
You may already be familiar with Copyright Agency or Screenrights who provide educational licences for text, image and broadcast content.
APRA, AMCOS, PPCA and ARIA are the organisations in Australia that represent musical works, lyrics, and sound recordings.
Collectively, APRA, AMCOS, PPCA and ARIA have agreements with over 180,000 local music publishers, songwriters, record labels and recording artists.
Through rights given to us by our local and global affiliates, we license the vast majority of the world’s repertoire of musical works and commercial sound recordings.
Playing music on campus and at education provider events:
Event recordings and audio-visual content:
Licence Fees are based on the aggregate of annual rates multiplied by either student enrolment numbers or fulltime-equivalent students (FTE), whichever is greater. With different rates applied to students enrolled in general courses and students enrolled in Music, Media and Creative Arts Courses (MMCAC).
| Enrolment Type | Annual Fees (including GST) |
|---|---|
| General All Students enrolled across all courses, other than those enrolled in Music, Media and Creative Arts Courses | The greater of: - $1.54 per General Enrolment; and - $3.85 per General FTE. |
| PLUS | |
| Music, Media and Creative Arts Courses (MMCAC) Students enrolled in performing arts, creative arts, dance, music technology, music production, animation, gaming, media and film courses and any course that includes the use of music as part of its formal curriculum. | The greater of: - $3.74 per MMCAC Enrolment; and - $9.35 per MMCAC FTE. |
| The licence is subject to an annual minimum fee of $125 | |
Education and training providers report their annual enrolment figure and/or their annual full-time equivalent (FTE) student numbers for General courses, along with any MMCAC student numbers, and we will calculate your annual licence fees in accordance with the calculation above.
For more information about our licence for Education and Training Providers, please contact us.
Here are some great resources:
More information can be found on our websites:
APRA AMCOS has an independent Dispute Resolution Process available to all licensees (and prospective licensees) More information is available in our Feedback Centre.
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