APRA already charge radio stations a licence fee to broadcast music. Why is another fee payable?
Composers have a number of separate rights under the Copyright Act to enable them to make a fair financial return on their work. They have the right to authorise the broadcast of their music – hence the APRA|AMCOS licence for radio stations to broadcast copyright material – and, quite separately, the right to control the public performance and communication of their work by radio, TV or any other means. Businesses playing copyright music by radio or TV are giving a public performance and those who use music on hold are authorising a communication to the public. Both uses of music require an APRA|AMCOS licence.
