APRA AMCOS announces record revenue of AU$857.4m
Record revenue: APRA AMCOS Group revenue hits $857.4m**, up 8.8% from last financial year thanks to strong digital, international and OneMusic growth. **All figures quoted are in AUD.
More money out the door to members and rightsholders: Total Net Distributable Revenue (NDR) reaches $755.7m, up 10.6% on last year and outpacing Gross Revenue growth.
International revenue hits $100m: APRA international revenue reaches $103.2m in FY26 thanks to strong touring and screen growth globally.
Shrinking spaces for domestic music: 96% of the music streamed in Aotearoa FY26 was imported. Local content has seen a startling 28.6% decline in five years to just 4% on streaming and 1.7% on User Generated Content (UGC).
Australasian music rights management organisation, APRA AMCOS, has released its annual Year In Review report, announcing a record high group revenue of $857.4m, up 8.8% from last financial year (FY). Of that, payments to members and rights holders, Net Distributable Revenue (NDR), grew 10.6% year-on-year to $755.7m, outpacing Gross Revenue growth.
As APRA celebrates 100 years of supporting songwriters, composers and music publishers, its FY26 revenue reached $557.2m, and of that, APRA international revenue hit an all-time high of $103.2m.
APRA’s international figure reflects the continued global success of Australian and New Zealand-made music. International group revenue (combined revenue across APRA and AMCOS) has also grown from $47.3m in FY19 to $107.3m in FY26, showing a total growth of 126.8% over the period.
Digital continues to dominate year-on-year (YOY) as the largest Group revenue source and biggest category increase – 53% overall share, and up 12.5% from last FY. Subscription Video on Demand (Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+ etc.) continues to grow at a strong rate, up 25.7% YOY and accounting for $113.8m.
OneMusic’s Public Performance revenue is up 10.9% this FY, powered by strong growth in concerts and events, fitness and restaurants. Restaurants in particular saw a 75% rise YOY. Audiences continue to spend their entertainment dollars on large-scale, high-priced international events, leading to softer sales and greater price sensitivity for mid-tier tours and smaller festivals.
APRA AMCOS data shows that when it comes to consuming local content, more than 91% of the music Australians streamed in FY26 was imported. In New Zealand, it’s even worse - 96% was by international creators. User Generated Content (UGC) platforms show the same pattern at far greater scale. UGC consumption grew, but Australian members' share fell to 3.6% and New Zealand 1.7%, a drop of around 28% in actual streams since last FY.
Dean Ormston, CEO of APRA AMCOS, explains: “This has been another year of strong results for our members, with more money out the door to them than ever before. As we celebrate APRA’s centenary year, we’ve also reflected on how far we’ve come while remaining firmly focused on the challenges ahead.
“Australian and New Zealand music continues to achieve extraordinary success around the world, but at home, the opportunities for our members to reach local audiences are shrinking. Music made here is winning over global audiences and generating record international revenue, yet it is becoming harder to discover on the platforms we use every day."
Anthony Healey, Head of Operations - APRA AMCOS Aotearoa, continues: “There are many positives in pockets of these figures, but the continued decline in NZ’s share of digital music is catastrophic. If we can’t increase discoverability, audience demand, and market access, then we can’t compete against the volume of global music and algorithms that actively works against us.
This needs decisive action from industry and government now, because without it, a whole generation will miss hearing themselves reflected and represented on these platforms - and the ability of local artists to foster audiences through touring at home will continue to disappear."
For APRA AMCOS’s membership of over 135,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers, over 340 events, seminars and presentations were delivered across Australia, New Zealand and internationally, engaging over 10,000 attendees through education, networking, professional development and industry engagement opportunities.
Ormston adds: “We continue to work closely with governments, platforms and international partners to ensure members are asked permission and receive payment when their works are used to train or generate AI content.
“In June, we took that message to the CISAC General Assembly in Paris, where we joined international partners in setting out the Paris Commitment to protect, recognise and fairly remunerate human creators. We then took the same case to Canberra, urging the Australian Government to hold firm on the Copyright Act. We will continue making that case, clearly and consistently, for as long as it takes.
“As AI technology advances, so too does the need to defend the simple principle at the heart of copyright: creators must retain the right to control the use of their work and be paid when that work is used. Our position remains clear and simple: permission and payment.”
For further information and to read the full report, visit apraamcos.com.au/yearinreview26.
FAQs
What is the Year In Review?
The Year In Review is a summary of APRA AMCOS’s activity from the previous financial year. While the Year in Review is not itself a statutory document it does incorporate elements of statutory and regulatory reporting with key member achievements and APRA AMCOS’s performance highlights.
How are APRA and AMCOS figures reported in the Year In Review?
While APRA and AMCOS in Australia and APRA and AMCOS in New Zealand are all different legal entities (Australasian Performing Right Association Ltd, APRA New Zealand Ltd, Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society Ltd, and AMCOS New Zealand Ltd), for the purpose of the Year In Review results are reported jointly under the group APRA AMCOS.
The total revenue figure for APRA AMCOS used in the Year In Review comprises all revenue received by all the APRA and AMCOS entities from all sources in both Australia and New Zealand, and includes domestic and international licensing revenue and other associated income such as interest.
For further detail, please visit the Transparency Report or Financial Report.
What is Net Distributable Revenue (NDR)?
NDR is the term used for the amount of money payable to members and rightsholders. It is calculated using the following formula:
Revenue - expenses = NDR
In FY26, APRA AMCOS paid out $755.7m in NDR to members and rightsholders. NDR grew 10.6% on last financial year’s $683.4m.
FY26 saw healthy top-line growth but also year-on-year improved conversion of revenue into member and rightsholder value, reflecting strategic management of operating costs.
For further detail, please visit the Transparency Report or Financial Report.
What is expense to revenue ratio?
Expense to revenue ratio is the operating cost of the business.
Across all APRA and AMCOS entities and the APRA AMCOS group, the FY26 Year in Review shows operating expenses this financial year are lower. APRA AMCOS group expense to revenue ratio in FY26 has reduced to 11.86% from 13.26% in FY25.
For further detail, please visit the Transparency Report or Financial Report.
Where does the money go?
This 11.86% covers the cost of administering royalties, including staff and investment in technology to process data more efficiently and accurately.
For further detail, please visit the Transparency Report or Financial Report.
