Who We Are - APRA AMCOS

• ABOUT APRA AMCOS
  • ABOUT APRA AMCOS

  Looking for information about the music industry and APRA AMCOS?

  Learn everything from copyright and royalties to how APRA AMCOS supports the music industry.

  • What we do
    • Overview
    • Who we are
    • Causes we support
    • Alternative dispute resolution
    • Alternatives to APRA AMCOS
    • Careers at APRA AMCOS
  • How it all works
    • Overview
    • Membership explained
    • Music copyright explained
    • Music royalties explained
    • Music licensing explained
    • Production Music licensing explained
  • Supporting the Industry
    • Overview
    • Awards
    • Competitions
    • Programs
    • Alyelhentye Nawu
    • Advocacy
    • Research papers
  • News & Events
    • Overview
    • Stories
    • Events
    • Tips
    • Media Releases
    • Opportunities
    • ALL News & Events
  • Governance & policy
    • Overview
    • Corporate governance
    • Distribution rules & practices
    • Annual reports
    • Code of Conduct
    • Policies & procedures
  • Help
    • Overview
    • FAQs
    • Feedback centre
    • International Affiliates Hub
    • Contact Us
  • Search for a song
    • Overview
  About APRA AMCOS
• MUSIC CREATORS
  • MUSIC CREATORS

  Are you a songwriter, composer, or music publisher?

  Learn everything you need to become a member, and get paid for your music. Membership is free!

  • Membership explained
    • Overview
    • Why join APRA AMCOS?
    • Music royalties explained
    • Distribution explained
    • Music copyright explained
    • Managing your rights
  • Member resources
    • Overview
    • Forms
    • Member Benefits
    • Funding, opportunities & grants
  • Join as a writer
    • Overview
  • Join as a publisher
    • Overview
  • Search for a song
    • Overview
  Why join APRA AMCOS
• MUSIC LICENCES
  • MUSIC LICENCES

  Looking for a music licence for your business or event?

  Learn how you can get permission to legally use music, whilst also supporting the music industry.

  • Music licensing explained
    • Overview
    • Why do I need a licence?
    • Where does my money go?
    • Music copyright explained
    • Dealing directly with copyright owners
  • Select a music licence
    • Overview
  • Search for a song
    • Overview
  Select a music licence
• PRODUCTION MUSIC
  • PRODUCTION MUSIC

  Creating an audio or video production?

  Access high-quality and cost-effective music to use in adverts, TV and radio programs, films and more.

  • Production Music licensing explained
    • Overview
    • Calculate Production Music rates
    • Production Music catalogue codes
  • Become a client
    • Overview
  • Supplier list
    • Overview
  Apply to become a client
• RESOURCES
  • RESOURCES

  Looking to enhance your industry and membership knowledge?

  Browse our one-stop hub to get the most out of your membership and learn about the music industry.

  • Member tools
    • Overview
  • Get Paid
    • Overview
  • Creativity
    • Overview
  • Industry Advice
    • Overview
  • Screen and Games
    • Overview
  • Publisher
    • Overview
  • Glossary
    • Overview
  RESOURCES

Log in to your account

Songwriters and composers

Music publishers

Production music clients

Cue sheet clients

Not a member yet? Join APRA AMCOS

Already started a Writer Member application? Continue

Who we are APRA AMCOS is a member-owned organisation, and we're here to work for you. TEXT TO SPEECH ABOUT APRA AMCOS / What we do / Who we are

We represent over 128,000 members who are songwriters, composers and music publishers. We license organisations to play, perform, copy, record or make available our music, and then we distribute the royalties to our members, and to international affiliate societies who then pay their members.

Join APRA AMCOS

Our Senior Management

Our team of music industry experts provide essential services to members and licensees. Our CEO, Dean Ormston, leads a team of dedicated and experienced Senior Managers.

Meet the Leadership Team

APRA Board & AMCOS Board

The APRA Board and AMCOS Board are made up entirely of our members to ensure your voice is represented at the highest level.

Meet our Boards

APRA AMCOS timeline

We have a long and proud history of representing music creators in Australia.

1926 APRA is established

The Australasian Performing Right Association Limited (APRA) was established in 1926 to manage the performance and communication rights of its members. We still do this today. Our licences cover music that is communicated or performed publicly including on radio, television, online, and live gigs.

1979 AMCOS is established

The Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society Limited (AMCOS) was established in 1979 to manage “mechanical royalties”, that is, the reproduction or copying and storage of music in different formats. This covers copying of songs and compositions by record labels or other parties to sell them on CD, vinyl, DVD, online, for use as production music and for radio/TV programs.

1997 APRA and AMCOS join forces

In response to feedback from music creators and licensees that they'd rather deal with one organisation, in 1997, APRA and AMCOS partnered up. We now deliver a one-stop service to music creators and licensees.

2019 OneMusic is formed

There's another licensing organisation called Phonographic Performance Company of Australia Ltd (PPCA) that covers the broadcast, communication or public playing of music videos and recorded music.

To remove the need for separate licences from PPCA and APRA AMCOS, OneMusic was formed. It's now easier than ever to meet copyright obligations for the public performance of musical works, sound recordings and music videos. Find out more about OneMusic.

Today

Today APRA AMCOS covers the rights and uses of music the original organisations took care of separately. We manage rights for both local and international songs, for the mutual benefit of music creators and licensees.

Hear from other APRA AMCOS music creators

Nat Dunn, Songwriter

“APRA have been integral to what I’ve been fortunate to have achieved career-wise and supported me on a global level. I wouldn’t be able to travel the world writing, performing, collaborating without their belief and support from the beginning of my career overseas, to now."

Brendon Boney, Songwriter

"I first knew music could become a career when I got my first APRA royalty. That came in after I'd been playing pubs around Wagga, and I filled out the live Performance Reports."

Amanda Brown, Composer

“As composers and musicians we don't generally have a regular income, superannuation or holiday pay. APRA has sustained me with royalties throughout my musical career.”

Frequently asked questions

What does APRA AMCOS do?

APRA AMCOS grants licences for the live performance, broadcast, communication, public playing or reproduction of its members’ musical works. APRA AMCOS then distributes the licence fees to its 119,000+ songwriter, composer and music publisher members and affiliated societies worldwide.

APRA AMCOS is the trading name of Australasian Performing Right Association Limited (APRA) and Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS).

Learn more about what we do.

What's OneMusic?

OneMusic Australia is an APRA AMCOS and Phonographic Performance Company of Australia Ltd (PPCA) joint licensing initiative launched 1 July 2019.

In Australia music creators generally authorise two organisations to administer their rights. APRA AMCOS (composers and music publishers) and PPCA (recording artists and record labels).

OneMusic Australia offers joint public performance licences so there's no longer any need for separate licence agreements and invoices from PPCA and APRA AMCOS. OneMusic Australia allows businesses to meet copyright obligations for the public performance of musical works and sound recordings more seamlessly.

Go to the OneMusic website.

Does APRA AMCOS offer any awards, grants or competitions?

APRA AMCOS is committed to supporting and celebrating the artistic excellence and commercial success of songwriters and composers across all genres.

There are several programs, grants, awards, competitions to help you build a thriving career in the music industry.

See APRA AMCOS programs, grants, awards and competitions.

Who runs APRA AMCOS?

APRA AMCOS isn't a government body. We're a music rights management organisation run by an executive management team in liaison with a non-exective board of directors. Individual writer members and representatives of publisher members are elected to the board by their respective memberships for renewable three-year terms.

Learn about the APRA AMCOS organisation.

Where does the money from licences go?

For every dollar we collect, about 85 cents goes straight back to songwriters, composers and publishers as royalties. The remainder is used to administer these royalties.

As a music rights management organisation, after costs are covered the rest of the money is distributed (paid) to music creators. Our expense-to-revenue ratio compares very favourably to affiliated organisations providing the same service overseas.

Read our distribution rules and practices.

Browse FAQs

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.

Contact us

Stay up to date with APRA AMCOS

Become an APRA AMCOS member - it's free!

Join APRA AMCOS Resources New Year, New You Some simple things you can do to put your music project on the right track More Story 2026 Professional Development Awards announced 13 artists share $130,000 cash incl. Boox Kid, Lizzy Welsh, Queenie and REDD. More Event Regional Sessions NSW 2026 Six reasons why YOU should come to Regional Sessions NSW Read more Media 2026 Grammys Eight members have been celebrated at the 2026 Grammy Awards More Story 2026 Art Music Awards Nominations are open now until 5pm (AEDT) Wednesday 25 February More Story APRA celebrates a century of song 100 years of championing AU & NZ songwriters, composers and music publishers More Close alert Top

This website uses cookies to offer you relevant information and a better experience. By staying on our site, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more.

OK