We have a range of licences in place with record labels, streaming services and download providers to pay royalties generated from streams, digital downloads, USB, CDs, Vinyl, DVDs and karaoke to our members.
The licensing requirements for a cover song, or your own published works are determined by the format of release. To make your songs available on Apple Music, Spotify, Google Play etc., you do not need an APRA AMCOS licence as APRA AMCOS licenses major Digital Service Providers (DSPs) within the territory of New Zealand & Australia. You will require the services of an aggregator to get your music on these services.
Digital aggregators are used to distribute music across a range of DSPs. We aren’t able to recommend an aggregator but for more information on choosing one check out our article here.
If you would like to release songs for streaming or download from your website you will require a Limited Digital Music Service agreement as you are acting as the Digital Service Provider. For more information, please contact us.
If you're a larger label seeking an ongoing agreement for sales to retail either online or over the counter, please get in touch so we can discuss licensing options with you.
If you want to release a physical recording which includes covers, you require an Audio Manufacturing Licence to cover your use of the musical work.
* To release a live performance in video form on a physical product, please contact us for further information.
This licence allows for the reproduction of music for the following purposes:
This licence does not cover:
Licence your release (PDF 338 KB)
If you're using sound recordings controlled by Recorded Music NZ contact via email, or phone +64 9 360 5085.
If you're releasing digital covers, please let us know and/or review our Online Licensing options.
| Where you are recording AMCOS member's works/tracks (songs, compositions) |
|---|
| Calculate the share of AMCOS member works/tracks of the total number of works/tracks |
| Multiply this by their recommended retail price (RRP) (ex GST) |
| Multiply this by the number of units manufactured |
| Multiply this by 6%* |
| Minimum fee of 5 cents per unit (ex GST) |
| *This 6% is a guide only - royalties are dependent on members’ shares of the works they have written or published.Once you have advised details of your proposed physical recording we will exactly advise who the rights holders are, their royalty shares etc and issue you a detailed invoice. This percentage excludes the APRA AMCOS processing fee, which directly relates to the number of works licensed each year |
Joe’s band records an album of 10 tracks. Eight tracks are written by the band and two tracks are covers of another songwriter (an APRA AMCOS member).
Joe and the band decide to produce 500 CDs of the recording and plan to sell each CD for $15 ex GST.
Joe and the band’s audio manufacture licence payment would be: Two covers divided by the 10 total tracks (0.2), multiplied by the $15 RRP, multiplied by 500 units they will produce, multiplied by 6%. Their fee would be $90 (ex GST).
When you are ready to commence the licence process, after selecting licence application below, right click and select ""Save As"" to save a copy of the document (pdf) to your computer before filling out the application.
Are you a songwriter that either:
You need to complete an Audio Manufacturer Direct Licence form. When a direct deal is in place, this form makes sure we aren't doubling up on collecting royalties. You can then freely deal direct on your share of the work, and other shares of royalties in that work will remain unaffected.
The licence fees you pay are distributed in the most economical and accurate way possible. Read about our cost to revenue ratio.
We ask licensees to provide tracklists with all applications. This ensures licence fees are distributed to the correct songwriters and composers.
We're here to help.