With reps in LA, Nashville and London, plus your membership team at home, we’re here to support you, no matter where you are.
Australian and New Zealand songwriters and composers are making a splash on the global stage. Our reps in LA, Nashville and London are here to help make living, touring and earning royalties overseas simple.
As an APRA AMCOS member, you enjoy global representation for your music rights. We have agreements with other organisations like us around the world. So when your music is used in another territory, our affiliates collect money on your behalf. They then pay these royalties to us, and we pay you.
Find out more about the flow of royalties through collecting societies, and when you can expect to get paid.
If you know your music is being used overseas, let us know by completing the relevant form. Tell us about overseas tours, the use of your music in film, TV, jingles, and other broadcasts or record releases.
We’ll contact the international society to seek royalties for you.
If you’ve got a bank account overseas, we can still pay you!
You can receive royalty payments into any international bank in a range of currencies. Get in touch to find out more.
It is important to note that withholding tax is applied to most international payments and therefore the Country of Economic Residence should be the country in which you currently lodge tax returns.
You can notify APRA AMCOS of any Country of Economic Residence changes via email.
If you’re earning money in multiple territories, we recommend you seek the advice of a tax agent with a firm understanding of international taxation. This is the best method to ensure that any tax already paid on foreign revenue is appropriately claimed on any tax returns lodged.
Our Chief Financial Officer, Tim Denny, has answered some common questions about earning overseas and paying tax. Read the Q&A.
Unlike most countries, in the USA there’s multiple performing rights organisations, and APRA AMCOS has reciprocal agreements with three of them: ASCAP, BMI and SESAC.
You can choose which one of these organisations we work with to collect royalties on your behalf
Outward Sound has been set up to provide assistance for market development initiatives and to encourage the entry of New Zealand music and musicians into global markets.
For more information and useful resources, visit their website.
I've performed overseas, how do I claim my live performance royalties?
To claim royalties for live performances outside of New Zealand/Australia, you’ll need to complete and submit an Overseas Performance Report.
After you submit a report, we contact the relevant international affiliate on your behalf to claim any relevant royalties. Please note that payment for overseas performances is not guaranteed, as it depends on the distribution rules of the relevant international affiliate society.
I received an overseas performance payment for a work, but the percentage share on my royalty statement looks different to the percentage share I registered with APRA. Why?
This may be because the international society has different information in their database about that work. Eg: you may have a work registered 100% to you as the composer/author, but your royalty statement might list your share in overseas earnings as 50%. It's important that you advise us if you've signed any publishing agreements, or if there are any other co-writers we are unaware of. If you think you've been underpaid, please contact us.
Can I apply for an APRA AMCOS music grant to financially support my overseas tour?
No. Our music grants are not available to fund individual bands touring domestically or overseas.
Will I get paid for international radio or TV broadcasts of my song?
We do monitor overseas TV and radio broadcasts, as well as chart information. However, if you know your music has been used overseas, you should complete an overseas broadcast notification form so we can contact the society and make sure you’re paid.
I have a publishing company based outside of Australian, New Zealand and/or South Pacific territories i.e., the US—and I would like to join APRA AMCOS as a publisher member. Is it possible for an overseas company to join as a publisher member?
Yes. However, you must have an arm of the company registered with ASIC or have an NZBN and operating in New Zealand, Australia and/or a South Pacific Nation. At this point a foreign company cannot be elected as an APRA AMCOS publisher member.
What if I perform on a cruise ship?
If the cruise line is operated and owned by a New Zealand or Australian company, you can submit a regular Performance Reports. If the cruise line is operated and owned by an overseas company, you need to submit an Overseas Performance Report.