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Membership Criteria
You can join APRA if you compose music, lyrics or both and satisfy all the following criteria:
- you are the original creator of a musical work
- you are an arranger of noncopyright works
- your work is publicly performed or broadcast
- you are a citizen of or ordinarily resident in Australia or New Zealand
- you are not currently a member of another performing right society
Membership is not open to musicians unless they are also composers.
Membership is on an individual basis. If you write musical works with another person, he or she will also need to apply for membership.
You do not need to be published to become a member.
Why Join?
If your music is performed in public - for example at pubs, clubs, festivals and concerts - or broadcast on radio, TV (including pay TV), you are entitled to royalty payments. This is because the Commonwealth Copyright Act gives writers what are called "performing rights" which cover these uses of their music.
APRA does collectively what would otherwise be difficult for writers or music users to do on an individual basis. We license music users, collect licence fees and pay the owners of the performing rights in the form of royalties.
Through reciprocal arrangements with performing right societies world-wide, APRA can also collect royalties for you when your music is played overseas. These arrangements essentially give Australian writers the same benefits as local writers in many countries. Royalty payment is however subject to the existing copyright law in each country and the individual policies of the affiliated societies. See APRA Affiliates
There are other less tangible benefits to joining APRA. As a member, you have the support of the APRA's Member Services Department. Staffed by a professional team who know the industry, the Department can provide expert advice on the issues that affect you and your career. You'll also be able to participate in a range of member activities including seminars, awards and industry showcase events. See APRA Activities
Opting Out
Since changes to our Articles of Association in early 1998, writers joining APRA can assign either part or all of their performing rights to the Association. Once you have joined, you can opt out of APRA either entirely or on a right by right basis provided that the required notice is given. See Licence Back and Opt Out Provisions
AMCOS Membership for writers
AMCOS, the Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society Limited, manages the reproduction rights of its members. While APRA and AMCOS are independent companies, since 1 July 1997, APRA has managed the affairs of AMCOS and the organisations staff and offices have been amalgamated.
To find out more about the services AMCOS provides, read the AMCOS brochure Solutions for copying music.
Click here for more information about joining AMCOS.
How to Join
Joining APRA|AMCOS is easy and doesn't cost anything. Click here to complete our online application form »
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