APRA AMCOS Pays Out $256.2 Million To Songwriters & Publishers

14 October 2014 | 11:12 am | Staff Writer

Did you get your share?

A rise in revenue from television and public performance royalties have seen a total of $256.2 million paid to musicians and rights holders by APRA AMCOS in the 2013/14 financial year.

In figures released by the music rights association in their Year In Review, APRA distributed $190.4 million (up 7.3 percent on last year’s $177.4 million) and AMCOS $65.8 million (up 1.1 percent on $65.1 million). The total net distributable revenue was also up 3.8 percent to $252.8 million, with rises in the television, public performance and international sectors arresting declines in revenue from recordings.

The organisation’s CEO Brett Cottle said, “the dichotomy underpinning the current state of the music industry: royalties from public performance and communication were continuing to grow, while recording royalties – based on the concept of reproduction and ownership of content – were for the most part either static or in decline.”

Television revenue was up to $75.6 million, from $70.2 million, and public performance up to $63.8 million, from $62.9 million. Revenue from recorded music was down to $15.2 million, from $17.8 million.

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He added, “The great news is that Australian and New Zealand music is enjoying more success internationally than it ever has – a great testament to the talent and resilience of our songwriters and their business partners.”

International revenue, from organisations such as ASCAP and BMI in the US, GEMA in Germany and PRS in the UK, was up to $27.9 million, from $22.3 million.

APRA AMCOS has over 87,000 members – songwriters, composers and music publishers – and 35,464 received payments during the period.