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.
Do I really need to become a publisher member?
Only if you represent other writers’ catalogues do you need to become a publisher member. If you are a songwriter who only represents your own catalogue you should, however, make sure you’ve joined both APRA and, if you are unpublished, AMCOS as a writer member.
I have a publishing company based outside of Australian, New Zealand and/or South Pacific territories i.e., the US—and I would like to join APRA AMCOS as a publisher member. Is it possible for an overseas company to join as a publisher member?
Yes. However, you must have an arm of the company registered with ASIC and operating in Australia, New Zealand and/or a South Pacific Nation. At this point a foreign company cannot be elected as an APRA AMCOS publisher member.
What does a Publisher do?
Music publishers nurture and develop songwriters and composers, and take care of the business aspects of their career. Music publishers make an investment - in terms of money, time and experience - in their writers. They exploit the copyright in the music and songs created by their writers in order to make a return on that investment, and to reward the writers for their creative work.
Find out more about music publishing.
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.
Does AMCOS act as my Publisher?
No. AMCOS represents some of your reproduction rights, but doesn't act as your publisher.
I just joined as an APRA AMCOS writer member, do I need to join as a publisher member as well?
In most cases, no. You should only join as a publisher member if you are intending to administer, promote and commercially exploit the work of other writers. Music publishers require in-depth industry knowledge and experience, as well as legal contracts in place with songwriters. Find out more about what a publisher does.
I am operating a record label, do I need to apply for publisher membership?
APRA and AMCOS publisher membership is not open to record labels, so your business needs to also be operating as a music publisher in order to be eligible for membership. As a record label operator you might like to join the Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR) and the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). You can also find out about PPCA to see if you are eligible to register and receive distributions when your sound recordings are performed or broadcast.
The music industry is full of jargon. Use our plain-English glossary to understand what the more obscure terms mean.