The second you write or record original music, you have copyright. It's free and automatic. APRA AMCOS helps you make money from your music by selling licences to people who want to use it. When your music is played you earn royalties and get paid.
APRA AMCOS music licences make sure that music creators everywhere are fairly paid for songs played in New Zealand. Find out how your organisation or event can legally play our music, and support the music industry.
Looking for a particular song or work? Search the APRA AMCOS registered song and work catalogue.
TIP: Read the summary on ‘How to search for a song or work’ before searching.
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What does APRA AMCOS do?
APRA AMCOS grants licences for the live performance, broadcast, communication, public playing or reproduction of its members’ musical works. APRA AMCOS then distributes the licence fees to its 119,000+ songwriter, composer and music publisher members and affiliated societies worldwide.
APRA AMCOS is the trading name of Australasian Performing Right Association Limited (APRA) and Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS).
How do I copyright and register my works?
Copyright and registration are two separate things.
Copyright is free and automatic.
That's right—you don’t have to do anything to ‘get’ copyright; it's there from the moment you write down or record the song. So as soon as you create a new song or piece of music, you have copyright in it.
Register works with APRA AMCOS.
To ensure you receive royalties when your work is played or performed, you must register your songs and compositions through the Writer Portal or App.
When do I get paid royalties?
APRA pays domestic royalties every three months and processes overseas royalties monthly.
AMCOS processes royalties quarterly—within 60 days of the end of each calendar quarter, usually just before the 60th day. All amounts over $10 are paid.
Why do I need an APRA AMCOS licence?
Firstly, it shows that your business or organisation respects and supports songwriters and composers - creators of New Zealand culture.
Secondly, if you use music that is protected by copyright within your business, Commonwealth legislation requires permission (a licence) from the creators of that music.
And last but not least - you benefit by using music: keeping your patrons and staff entertained, engaged and creating a better atmosphere.
Composers and music publishers generally authorise APRA AMCOS to administer their rights in Australia. Without these licences you would, for example, need to deal directly with the composers, songwriters and music publishers who own the rights in the music you wish to use.
You can get more information from the New Zealand Intellectual Property Office.
What is OneMusic New Zealand?
OneMusic is a joint licensing initiative between APRA AMCOS and Recorded Music NZ. OneMusic licenses businesses that use music on behalf of APRA AMCOS and Recorded Music NZ, who return the licence fees collected to music creators – songwriters, composers, music publishers, recording artists and record labels – as royalties.
Both are member organisations, which means that after administration costs all money collected is returned to music creators as royalties. Having permission to use music in a business setting is required by law, and a OneMusic licence grants businesses the permission they need to use essentially all commercially released music from anywhere around the world.
Who can join APRA?
If you write or compose your own songs, you may be eligible to join APRA. You'll also need to match one or more of the following criteria:
You can't join if you're a member of an overseas Performing Rights Organisation. If you're in a band, only the members who write or compose music need to join.
Who can join AMCOS?
Joining AMCOS is separate from joining APRA. You may want to join AMCOS if you have unpublished works released on a recording for sale to the public or reproduced in a production music recording. You can join AMCOS if:
How do I log in to the Writer Portal?
In the 'Log in' menu on the website, choose 'Songwriters and composers' and then log in to your account. Enter your email address - the one you use for APRA AMCOS correspondence.
If it's your first time logging in, you'll receive an activation email, asking you to choose a password. Make sure you check your junk or spam if you can't see the activation email in your inbox.
Once you've created your password you'll get access to the Writer Portal.
View this video to see more detail, and how to reset your password.
What are Performance Reports?
If you play live at pubs, clubs, cafes, or other live music venues in New Zealand and Australia, you can get royalties for these performances by submitting a Performance Report.
Just tell us what songs you've performed in which venues, and you could be paid for playing your original music live. Please make sure you also tell us about any covers you perform so the original songwriters can get paid too.
You can submit your Performance Reports on-the-go via the APRA AMCOS for Music Creators App or in the Writer Portal. Download the app for free from the Apple App store, or from GooglePlay for Android.
What is an ISRC and where can I get one?
The International Standard Recording Code (ISRC) is the international identification system for sound recordings and music video recordings. APRA AMCOS does not issue ISRCs. Recorded Music NZ is the International Standard Recording Code national agency, and it administers ISRCs. For more information about the ISRC system, or to apply for an ISRC for your recordings, please visit Recorded Music NZ.
Please supply all your ISRCs to APRA AMCOS by adding to your works registration details. ISRCs are used by APRA AMCOS to assist in matching work details reported to us by Digital Service Providers for digital download sales. ISRC information therefore assists in maximising the download royalties we can pay to our members.
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.