Copyright & Royalties for Australian Musicians

Performance fees are only half the picture. The other half is getting paid every time your music is played, streamed or copied — and that runs through Australia's collecting societies. Here's how the royalty side works and who to sign up with.

Songwriters and composers: APRA AMCOS

APRA AMCOS is the collecting society for songwriters, composers and publishers. In its own words: "APRA AMCOS is a music rights management organisation and it's our job to license music, collect fees and pay royalties to members."

It licenses your music to everyone from streaming services to local cafes, then pays the royalties back to you — as long as you have registered your works. Membership is free to join.

When you get paid

Royalties are distributed on a regular cycle: "AMCOS processes domestic royalties quarterly. All amounts over $10 are paid within 60 days of the end of each calendar quarter, usually just before the 60th day."

One thing to sort out first: your ABN

This is the detail that trips people up: "If you don't have an ABN and you earn more than $500 in APRA royalties or $75 in AMCOS royalties, we have to deduct withholding tax from your royalties at the highest marginal rate for personal income tax."

Get an Individual/Sole Trader ABN through the Australian Business Register and give it to APRA AMCOS before the royalties start flowing.

Recording artists and labels: PPCA

APRA AMCOS covers the song (the composition). The sound recording is a separate right, licensed in Australia by the PPCA (Phonographic Performance Company of Australia), which distributes to registered recording artists and licensors. If you own your masters, it is worth checking whether you should register there too.