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THE apra|amcos relationship
The Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) is a non profit company established in 1926 to administer the performing right of its songwriter, composer and music publisher members. APRA represents over 42,000 music creators in Australia alone. Through our reciprocal agreements with similar societies throughout the world, we represent the vast majority of the world's music creators.
APRA’s primary business is licensing its members’ performing rights. To this end, APRA licenses radio and television stations for their broadcast use of music. It also licenses concert promoters, cinemas and venues that provide any form of live or recorded music. The licence fees are distributed to writers and their publishers around the world, based on survey data provided by licensees.
In addition, APRA manages the reproduction rights business of its sister collecting society, AMCOS (Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners’ Society). AMCOS represents virtually all music publishers in Australia and New Zealand and, through reciprocal arrangements, the vast majority of the world’s composers, writers and music publishers.
On behalf of its members, AMCOS grants licences for the reproduction of musical works. This involves collecting royalties from independent record companies, film-makers, educational institutions and others who record or reproduce music in some form.
APRA and AMCOS are separately constituted companies each with their own Board of Directors. However, following an agreement reached on 1 July 1997, APRA manages the affairs of AMCOS and the organisations’ staff and offices have been amalgamated.
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