Digital music services account for around 25% of the recorded music market – and that figure is increasing each year. Services may be specialised in one music genre or offer millions of tracks for sale in both single song and bundled formats.
There are two rights involved in the process of making and supplying digital downloads:
- the reproduction of works; and
- the communication to the public of those works.
Both these rights may be exercised multiple times. Digital service providers require licences from both the owner of the sound recording (generally through deals with record labels) and the owner/exclusive licensee of the music (generally APRA|AMCOS).
A La Carte Services
In December 2009 the Australian Copyright Tribunal approved a scheme for the royalties payable to composers, songwriters and music publishers for licensed digital downloads of music and music videos in Australia.
The approved scheme covers payments of royalties to composers, songwriters and music publishers for the download of music by Australian customers of licensed digital music service providers operating in Australia. It replaces previous agreements that had been in place between APRA|AMCOS and digital music service providers for a number of years.
The approved scheme provides that digital music service providers must pay royalties to APRA|AMCOS at a rate of 9% (plus GST) of retail price for music downloads and 8% (plus GST) of retail price for music video downloads. These rates are subject to certain per track minima.
If you would like to apply for a licence or want to find out more about our licensing framework, please contact us at
Subscription Music Services
APRA|AMCOS has available a licence for subscription services (including subscription services that provide streaming and cloud-based options) at 9.0% of the relevant revenue, again subject to certain minima.
If you would like to apply for a licence or want to find out more about our licensing framework, please contact us at
Other Digital Music Services
Potential licensees (including operators of proposed advertiser-funded services) should contact us to discuss appropriate licence arrangements for their proposed services. APRA|AMCOS encourage the development of legal download services and take a proactive approach to new services. By way of example we have recently licensed such innovative new digital music services as: Nokia Comes With Music, Guvera and Qtrax.
If you would like to apply for a licence or want to find out more about our licensing framework, please contact us at