The first step to understanding which music licence is right for you is identifying what you want to use the music for.
Businesses who can get a OneMusic licence play music in:
Music is the foundation of a concert performance and plays a key part of other events including festivals and comedy shows. We have different music licensing agreements for different kinds of events, which includes:
Music in dramatic context - in plays, ballets and performances with storylines.
The way you can use music online is evolving as the digital world grows. You may need one of our music licences if you use music online. That may include:
Releasing Music
Whether you're a distributor, record label, or artist, you'll need a music licence to release formats of music such as:
Copying Music
Copying music for private use, where you can transfer music from one format to another for private copying purposes. Also, copying music to supply your customers with either background music and/or music on hold.
If you want to use music in content you create for any purpose (e.g., advertisements, films, programmes, or online content) you require a synchronisation (“sync”) licence with the owners of the song you wish to use.
There are two copyrights to consider when licencing musical works – the musical work (lyrics and musical arrangement) which is controlled by a songwriter or their music publisher, and the sound recording which is controlled by a recording artist or their record label. You need to clear the rights with both parties before use.
You can use our Works Search to help you find the details of published works in our repertoire. Please contact Recorded Music NZ for information regarding recording artists or record labels.
Production Music is a high-quality and cost-effective alternative to commercially released music for film, TV, advertising and online content. It's specifically written and recorded for use in audio and audiovisual productions including advertisements, films, TV & radio programmes, websites, online games and music-on-hold.
OneMusic Domestic Use Video licence covers music used in video for:
You can get an annual licence covering multiple events or opt to pay by event under our single event licence.
We have different music licensing agreements for:
If your station only exists online, check out our range of online music licences.
Music plays an important part in a school's teaching curriculum, and has many other benefits for the wider school community. This licence is administered through OneMusic New Zealand.
View your options with OneMusic or go to getlicensed.co.nz for more information on the Schools Music Licence.
Music is an essential part of the movie-going experience. Our cinema licence covers your music uses managed by APRA AMCOS.
This licence allow you to:
If you wish to arrange music or use it in print, online, advertisements, film or TV you need the permission and a licence from the copyright owners of the musical work and sound recordings. We can help you find the right contact.
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.
Do I need an APRA AMCOS licence if I only play or copy music from overseas artists?
APRA AMCOS is part of a worldwide network of collecting societies connected through reciprocal licensing agreements. This network allows our members rights to be administered all over the world, and the rights of overseas composers to be represented in New Zealand and Australia. For example, PRSforMusic administers Lorde’s rights in the UK, and we administer Ed Sheeran’s here. Your licence fee contributes income to New Zealand songwriters and to songwriters from around the world.
How is APRA AMCOS able to license music use?
Whenever music is performed in public, communicated or reproduced the songwriter and their publisher may be entitled to a payment or royalty. The New Zealand Copyright Act gives writers 'economic rights' which cover certain uses of their music. By licensing and allowing the public performance, communication or reproduction of their music, songwriters can generate income known as royalties. Songwriters and their publishers have joined APRA AMCOS and together with our reciprocal arrangements with overseas societies, we are able to aggregate their rights to offer blanket music licences.
How have CPI increases been calculated 1 July 2022
On 1 July each year APRA’s GST exclusive rates are increased by the percentage increase in the CPI between the last two March Quarter’s under the Licence Agreement terms.
The increase in the CPI between the last two March Quarters was 6.9%.
At APRA we are aware of the challenges businesses face as we begin to see light at the end of the tunnel from Covid-19.
To support businesses as well as our music creators we’ve made a one-off decision to discount part of the increase that would otherwise apply for the year commencing 1 July 2022 licences below.
The GST exclusive rate for the following licences will effectively increase only by 3.9%
(with APRA discounting the remaining 3%).
This discount on the increase under the Licence Agreement terms is being implemented only in respect of the licence year commencing 1 July 2022.