APRA AMCOS Unveils End-Of-Year Royalty Details

It may not have felt like it on the ground but 2014 has proven to be one of the most lucrative for Aussie musicians in recent memory as APRA AMCOS reveals the end-of-year results for royalty payments, including the revelation that this year's Live Performance Return (LPR) rate of $1.81 is the highest to date.

APRA's fourth-quarter performance royalty payments amounted to a shade over $46 million (including $6 million in overseas royalties), and saw a 51% increase in the number of LPRs received from over the last decade, with more than $4 million in LPR royalties being disseminated to much-deserving musicians last week alone. LPRs are open to any songwriter or composer APRA AMCOS members whose works were performed in a live capacity in Australia, New Zealand or internationally. This year's rate is up two cents from last year's payout of $1.79, but regardless stands as the highest rate afforded to LPRs so far.

The November distribution statistics recorded payment for 641,626 different works, 219,227 of them local, with 26,382 Aussie writers seeing variable amounts of coin for their efforts. In making a statement about the returns, APRA AMCOS head of member services group Dean Ormston revealed that the company will be moving towards more regular, quarterly distribution of payment from November next year.

"LPR payments are important to members at all stages of their career cycle," Ormston said. "Whether new acts honing their performance skills or seasoned performers, the feedback is LPR payments provide a welcome cash bonus, and recognition. For some it's a tank of petrol, and for others new equipment."

"In 2015 we'll launch stage one of our Member App, which will include the option of saving setlists and submitting LPRs whenever suits," he continued. "Our goal is to grow the value of LPR payments, simplify administration and move to quarterly payments from November 2015."