Entertainment & Arts Law · Intellectual Property & Copyright
OneMusic, APRA AMCOS and PPCA licences for venues and events.
Playing or performing music in public usually needs a licence. Here is why there are two sets of rights, and how OneMusic rolled them into one.
By Aaron Kernaghan · Brady & Associates Lawyers · 13 September 2026
This article is for informational purposes and general commentary only. It does not constitute legal advice and does not create a solicitor-client relationship.
If your venue, event or business plays or performs music in public, you usually need a music licence. Two sets of rights are involved. The rights in the musical works, meaning the composition and the lyrics, are administered by APRA AMCOS. The rights in the sound recordings are administered by PPCA. Since 1 July 2019, OneMusic Australia has offered a single joint licence covering both.
Public performance is broad. It includes live performance, playing recorded music, background music in a venue, and music used in classes or on hold. Playing music in public without the right licence can infringe copyright. OneMusic offers around 30 licence types tailored to different settings, from cafes and gyms to nightclubs and live music venues.
Two sets of rights, one licence
Every recorded song involves at least two copyrights: the musical work written by the songwriter, and the sound recording made by the performers and label. APRA AMCOS looks after the works on behalf of songwriters and publishers. PPCA looks after the sound recordings on behalf of recording artists and labels. Before OneMusic, a venue often needed a separate licence from each. OneMusic combines them into one application and one invoice.
When you need a licence
You generally need a licence whenever music is performed or played in public as part of your business or event. That covers a band playing live, a DJ, recorded music over a sound system, music in a dance or fitness class, and music on hold. A private domestic gathering is different, but most commercial and public settings need cover.
Live original music, covers and recorded music
If a band plays only its own original songs that the members wrote, the songwriting rights sit with the band, but a venue playing recorded music at other times will still need cover for that. If performers play covers, the songwriters of those covers are entitled to be paid, which the venue licence handles. Recorded music engages the PPCA side as well. A OneMusic venue licence is designed to cover this mix.
Festivals and one-off events
Festivals and one-off events can be licensed through event-specific arrangements rather than an annual venue licence. Organisers should sort licensing into the budget and timeline early, alongside the artist contracts, not after tickets go on sale.
If you do not license
Playing music in public without the right licence can infringe copyright, exposing the operator to a claim by the rights holders or their agencies. Licensing is far cheaper than a dispute, and it is how the songwriters and performers behind the music are paid.
The performer's side
For songwriters and performers, these same bodies are how you get paid when your music is used. Registering your works and recordings with APRA AMCOS, and recordings with PPCA, means that when a venue's licence fees are distributed, your share can reach you. Correct registration is the other half of the licensing system.
Frequently asked.
Do I need a licence to play recorded music in my venue?
Usually yes. Playing recorded music in public engages both the musical works rights (APRA AMCOS) and the sound recording rights (PPCA), which a OneMusic licence covers together.
What is OneMusic Australia?
A joint licensing service of APRA AMCOS and PPCA, launched on 1 July 2019, that lets a business get one licence covering both sets of music rights instead of two.
If a band only plays original songs, do I still need a licence?
For the band's own originals the songwriting rights sit with the band, but a venue that also plays recorded music or hosts covers will still need cover. A venue licence is the simplest way to stay compliant across the mix.
What is the difference between APRA AMCOS and PPCA?
APRA AMCOS administers the rights in musical works for songwriters and publishers. PPCA administers the rights in sound recordings for recording artists and labels. Both are engaged when recorded music is played in public.
How do songwriters get paid from these licences?
By registering their works with APRA AMCOS (and recordings with PPCA), so that licence fees collected from venues and events are distributed to the rights holders.
If you are a performer, producer, venue, or independent practitioner and this raises a question about your own situation, Aaron Kernaghan and the team at Brady & Associates Lawyers can give you tailored guidance. Call 0421 717 019 or contact the firm.
This article is for informational purposes and general commentary only. It does not constitute legal advice and does not create a solicitor-client relationship. It reflects the law in Australia as at 13 September 2026, with a focus on Commonwealth law and New South Wales and ACT practice. The law changes and applies differently to every set of facts. Written by Aaron Kernaghan, Brady & Associates Lawyers.