A BASIC GUIDE TO
APRA AMCOS
WHAT IS COPYRIGHT ? JOIN FOR FREE
When you write original music, you own it. This
ownership is called copyright. If you’re a songwriter or composer and your music
has been performed live in public, broadcast on radio
or television, or downloaded and streamed online,
then you’re eligible to join APRA AMCOS.
Copyright protection is automatic in New Zealand.
The minute you write down a song or record it in any
form, your work is protected by the law.
That means that if anyone wants to copy or play your
music in public, they need your permission.
It’s free to join and you can do it online at
www.apraamcos.co.nz
Make sure you have:
Giving people permission to use music is how
composers and songwriters earn money from their
work. • Your contact details
WHAT IS APRA A MCOS? • The name and ownership details of
one of your songs that has been
publicly performed or broadcast
APRA AMCOS is a member organisation that
represents composers, songwriters and music
publishers from New Zealand, Australia and the
Pacific Islands.
We give businesses (like TV, radio stations, websites,
bars, nightclubs, restaurants, gyms and shops)
permission to play, copy and record music on behalf
of our members.
We do collectively what would otherwise be very hard
for songwriters and composers to do by themselves.
WHY SHOULD YOU JOIN?
We collect licence fees from the businesses that use
your music - and pay those licence fees back to you in
the form of royalties.
Through agreements with similar organisations
around the world, we also collect royalties for your
music when it’s played, recorded and copied overseas.
However, we’re only able to pay you these royalties if
you’re a member of APRA AMCOS, so to get paid you
need to join us.
Other benefits of being a member include being
able to enter our awards, attend our seminars
and workshops, and apply for our professional
development grants.
• Your bank account details (so we can
pay you)
• One example of where and when that
work was performed/broadcast
“We’re huge fans of NZ music. We pay a licence
fee to OneMusic so that we can support local
songwriters who play in our venue. People
who play here tell APRA when they played
and what they played… and then our licence
fees become the royalties that they earn
for performing their original songs.”
Ross Herrick | Dux Central
“For songwriters, the fact that an organisation
exists to protect our music is an incredible
support. Knowing people are working behind the
scenes to ensure our music is valued allows us
to focus on what we do best… making music.”
Ria Hall | Songwriter
ANY QUESTIONS?
Contact our Member Services team on
(0800) 692 772 or email us at [email protected]
NZ MUSIC COMMISSION MAY BOOK 2020 • 11