To claim royalties from our overseas Performing Rights Organisations (PROs) for the live performance of your works, you will need to submit an Overseas Performance Report through the app or Writer Portal, just like AU/NZ reports
In most cases, you are able to claim performances that have taken place overseas up to 2.5 years prior. However, special claimable periods and schemes apply for performances that take place in the United States of America.
Please check below the territory specific information for where you are claiming for overseas performances.
Please note that payment for overseas performances is not guaranteed; claims are subject to the rules and practices of our affiliated overseas PROs. There are also certain territories where there are no effective societies or concert licensing. There is also a chance that by submitting a claim to an overseas PRO, they will be prompted to seek to license a venue/promoter that was not previously licensed.
APRA AMCOS licences performances in Australia and New Zealand. As such, performances that have taken place in these territories should be submitted as per your normal domestic live Performance Reports, which is available through the online writer member section of our website.
Log in to your account on the APRA AMCOS website to submit Performance Reports.
APRA is affiliated with three PROs in the USA, ASCAP, BMI and SESAC. As an APRA member, any royalties that are generated in the USA are collected by whichever of the three you have your repertoire designated through. Unpublished APRA members who have not made an election to designate are designated through ASCAP in the USA by default.
If you are ASCAP designated, or are unpublished and have not made an election for US designation.
In the latter case we will make a claim to ASCAP presuming that you want the default designation to apply. Please note, you can only submit performances from the last year – due to ASCAP’s deadline.
If you are BMI designated:
BMI LIVE is a system under which BMI designated APRA members are able to claim their live concerts and set lists online to be considered for payment for performances in live music venues across the United States, regardless of the size of the venue. To qualify for BMI Live, you will need to supply information pertaining to the venue where you performed, including the venue’s address and phone number.
Please note in order to meet BMI’s deadline, you will need to submit your performance data to APRA within 8 months of the performance and have your works registered. You will also be asked to supply the performance date and time. Also, please include the venue’s estimated capacity and cover charge amount amount in the ‘Promoter’s Address’ field. Visit www.bmi.com/special/bmi_live for an up-to-date payment schedule.
If you are SESAC designated:
SESAC designated writers should also submit MP3s of recordings of their works for registration with SESAC.
Canada
SOCAN, our Canadian affiliate, requires supporting documentation for live performances of works in their territory to determine if the performances qualify for concert royalties. For performances that have taken place in bars, clubs or restaurants, it must be shown that a minimum cover charge of $6.00 was charged to the patrons to qualify for distribution. Copies of contracts, ticket stubs or advertisements that clearly indicate the cover charge will suffice as proof of performance.
In a few countries in South America, music copyright practice is still developing. Some smaller territories in this region have no collection society or have emerging societies with limited licensing capabilities. This may mean that no royalties will be payable for performances in those territories. If you are unsure as to the status of the society of the territory where you performed, please contact your local Writer Services representative before submitting your performance report.
Our affiliate in this territory (PRS) usually pays royalties for live performances as part of their distribution rules and practices, as long as the venue is licensed. In order to meet the UK society’s deadlines – please submit your performance data to APRA within 11 months. Payment of royalties for performances in this territory will depend on the frequency with which the society makes their distributions and note it can take up to two years after the performance takes place. As there are a large number of venues with similar names within the UK, please supply as much detailed information about the venue as possible. It is also essential for us to claim with PRS on your behalf to provide us with the postcode for UK venues.
Our affiliates in these territories usually pay royalties for live performances as part of their distribution rules and practices, as long as the venue is licensed. There is a 3 year period in which to claim for live performances in this territory, as per CISAC requirements. Payment for performances in this territory will depend on the frequency with which the society makes their distributions and can be up to two years after the performance takes place. Please keep evidence of your performances as many societies require this when submitting.
Performed in other countries in this territory?
Many of our affiliates in these territories do not collect or pay royalties for live performances and therefore there may be no royalties forthcoming for any performances taking place in this territory. Contact your writer services representative for further information or clarification.
Our affiliates in these territories usually pay royalties for live performances as part of their distribution rules and practices, as long as the venue is licensed. There is a 3 year period in which to claim for live performances in this territory, as per CISAC requirements. Payment for performances in this territory will depend on the frequency with which the society makes their distributions and note it can be up to two years after the performance takes place. Please keep evidence of your performances as many societies require this when submitting.
Performed in other countries in this territory?
Our affiliates in these territories may not collect or pay royalties for live performances. For example, currently performances in Greece may not be licensed. Contact your writer services representative for more information/clarification.
Our affiliate in this territory usually pays royalties for live performances as part of their distribution rules and practices. There is a 3 year period in which to claim for live performances in this territory, as per CISAC requirements. Payment for performances in this territory will depend on the frequency with which the society makes their distributions and can be up to two years after the performance takes place.
Our affiliates in these other African territories may not collect or pay royalties for live performances. Please contact your Writer Services Representative for more information/clarification before submitting.
Our affiliate in this territory (JASRAC) usually pays royalties for live performances as part of their distribution rules and practices. There is a 3 year period in which to claim for live performances in this territory, as per CISAC requirements. Payment for performances in this territory will depend on the frequency with which the society makes their distributions and can be up to two years after the performance takes place.
Our affiliate in this territory (KOMCA) usually pays royalties for live performances as part of their distribution rules and practices. There is a 3 year period in which to claim for live performances in this territory, as per CISAC requirements. Payment for performances in this territory will depend on the frequency with which the society makes their distributions and can be up to two years after the performance takes place.
Our affiliate (CASH) in this territory pays royalties for live performances as part of their distribution rules and practices. There is a 3 year period in which to claim for live performances in this territory, as per CISAC requirements. Payment for performances in this territory will depend on the frequency with which the society makes their distributions and can be up to two years after the performance takes place.
If your performance took place in China, note that copyright law and practice is still in development in China. While there is a performing right society there that we are affiliated with (Music Copyright Society of China - MCSC), licensing penetration, collections and distributions are still in development. If you know you will be touring to China, you may wish to contact APRA member services in advance to discuss and we can query MCSC about the likelihood of payment.
If your performance took place in Thailand, note that copyright law and practice is still developing in Thailand. While there is a performing right society there that we are affiliated with (MCT) licensing penetration, collections and distributions are still developing. If you know you are touring to Thailand, you may wish to contact APRA member services in advance to discuss and we can query MCT about the likelihood of payment.
If your performance took place in Vietnam, note that copyright law and practice is a still in development in Vietnam. While there is a performing right society there that we are affiliated with (VCPMC) licensing penetration, collections and distributions are still developing. If you know you are touring to Vietnam you may wish to contact APRA member services in advance to discuss and we can query VCPMC about the likelihood of payment.
Our affiliate in this territory pay royalties for live performances as part of their distribution rules and practices. There is a 3 year period in which to claim for live performances in this territory, as per CISAC requirements. Payment for performances in this territory will depend on the frequency with which the society makes their distributions and can be up to two years after the performance takes place. Note that some venues in Israel deduct a portion of the performer payment to cover the cost of the venue’s live performance licence with the Israeli society. If you have performed at such a venue, we suggest that you submit an Overseas Performance Report so APRA can claim any relevant royalties from the Israeli society on your behalf. If you are aware that you’ll be performing in such a venue in the future, please contact APRA AMCOS Writer Services before your tour so we can advise your options.
Other territories
Live performances taking place in any other Asian territory besides the ones listed, may not result in payment and therefore it may not be worthwhile submitting a claim. If your work was performed in other territories, please do not hesitate to contact APRA AMCOS Writer Services for more information/clarification.
I've performed overseas, how do I claim my live performance royalties?
You can now submit your international Performance Reports through the app or Writer Portal, just like your AU/NZ reports.
The system is tailored to each overseas Performing Rights Organisation's (PROs) requirements. You just need to specify the country, and we will handle the next steps.
I've just returned from an international tour. When will I get my royalty payments from each country?
Provided there are functioning societies in the countries you've toured, once you have submitted your Performance Report, we'll submit your claim to our international affiliated societies. Depending on their distribution policies, certain performances may be payable and others won't be payable.
Once the society has verified the performances, any relevant payments will be made in their next available distribution back to us. Payment timeframes can vary, depending on how frequently the society distributes.
Submit your Overseas Performance Reports via the app or Writer Portal.
Read more about submitting Overseas Performance Reports.
My co-writer who is a member of an overseas society has already been paid by their society for overseas performances of our works there. How long will it take for me to get paid?
There is always a time lag between performances overseas and payments for those performances reaching us. The timing depends on how often the society makes their distributions. In some cases this can be up to two years after the performance took place. Societies are obliged to account to us within 90 days of paying their own members. We make “mini” distributions to writer members for overseas royalties each month. Please contact us for more information.
I received an overseas performance payment for a work, but the percentage share on my royalty statement looks different to the percentage share I registered with APRA. Why?
This may be because the international society has different information in their database about that work. Eg: you may have a work registered 100% to you as the composer/author, but your royalty statement might list your share in overseas earnings as 50%. It's important that you advise us if you've signed any publishing agreements, or if there are any other co-writers we are unaware of. If you think you've been underpaid, please contact us.