APRA AMCOS is the Australasian performing and mechanical rights organisation, covering Australia and New Zealand. UK artists registered with PRS for Music collect Australian and New Zealand royalties through the PRS-APRA AMCOS reciprocal agreement without joining separately.
What APRA AMCOS is
APRA AMCOS is the combined performing and mechanical rights organisation for Australia and New Zealand. APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) handles performing rights — collecting royalties when music is broadcast, publicly performed, or communicated to the public. AMCOS (Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society) handles mechanical rights — royalties from reproduction of music on recordings, including streaming. The two organisations operate as a single entity (APRA AMCOS) but maintain separate licensing and distribution functions for performing rights and mechanical rights. Together they cover one of the most active music markets in the Asia-Pacific region, with Australia ranking among the top ten music markets globally by revenue.
How UK artists collect through the PRS-APRA AMCOS reciprocal agreement
PRS for Music has a reciprocal agreement with APRA AMCOS. When music by UK PRS members is performed or broadcast in Australia or New Zealand, APRA collects the performance royalties and passes the UK share to PRS for distribution to you. AMCOS handles the mechanical rights side, with UK artists' mechanical royalties from Australian streaming and reproduction flowing through MCPS/PRS's international mechanical licensing arrangements. As with all reciprocal agreements, the accuracy of collection depends on your works being correctly registered at PRS with full co-writer details, publisher information, and ISWC codes. Australia and New Zealand use English-language metadata, which reduces the risk of transliteration errors that sometimes affect matching in non-Latin-script territories.
Australian neighbouring rights — PPCA
PPCA (Phonographic Performance Company of Australia) is the Australian equivalent of PPL — it collects neighbouring rights for performers and record labels when recordings are broadcast or played publicly in Australia. PPL has a reciprocal arrangement with PPCA. UK artists who are PPL members as performers and/or labels should check their PPL statements for PPCA distributions, which reflect Australian broadcast and public performance of their recordings. Australia has a strong commercial radio sector and active public broadcaster (ABC), both of which generate PPL/PPCA income for international repertoire.
New Zealand — APRA AMCOS and Recorded Music NZ
New Zealand falls within APRA AMCOS's jurisdiction for performing and mechanical rights, so UK artists collect New Zealand royalties through the same PRS-APRA AMCOS reciprocal agreement as Australia. For neighbouring rights in New Zealand, Recorded Music NZ (RMNZ) is the equivalent of PPL and PPCA. PPL's reciprocal arrangements should cover New Zealand neighbouring rights income for UK-registered performers and labels, though New Zealand's market is significantly smaller than Australia's and the royalty amounts reflect this.
The Australian market and UK music
Australia has a historically strong appetite for UK music — British acts consistently chart and tour in Australia, and Australian radio has traditionally featured high proportions of international English-language repertoire. For UK artists who have toured Australia, had Australian radio play, or whose music has been placed on Australian streaming editorial playlists, the combination of APRA performance royalties and PPCA neighbouring rights can represent a meaningful income stream that should be visible in PRS and PPL statements 12 to 24 months after the usage events.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to join APRA AMCOS as a UK artist?
No. UK PRS members do not need to join APRA AMCOS. The PRS-APRA AMCOS reciprocal agreement covers Australian and New Zealand performance and mechanical royalties for PRS members. Joining APRA AMCOS directly while remaining a PRS member would create conflicts in the reciprocal agreement system.
Does APRA AMCOS collect from Spotify Australia?
Yes. APRA AMCOS licenses and collects from streaming platforms operating in Australia and New Zealand, including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and others. These royalties flow through the APRA AMCOS-PRS reciprocal arrangement to your PRS account.
How do I check if I am receiving Australian royalties?
Log in to your PRS member portal and review your royalty statements by territory. Australian royalties will appear as APRA AMCOS distributions. If you have had Australian airplay or significant Australian streaming numbers and see no APRA AMCOS distributions after 24 months, investigate your registration completeness with PRS.
What about Papua New Guinea and other Pacific territories?
APRA AMCOS's jurisdiction is primarily Australia and New Zealand. Other Pacific territories have their own arrangements or may fall under APRA AMCOS for certain purposes. Royalties from smaller Pacific markets are generally minimal for international artists and are typically addressed through the CISAC network of reciprocal agreements.
Published