Music plays a crucial role in creating the total cinema experience. Movie soundtracks play their own special role in films and the music played by an exhibitor before and after the film itself helps create the right atmosphere for customers. Because of these many benefits, the creators of the music used by cinema exhibitors are entitled to be fairly paid for the use of their work.

Cinema Exhibitors require permissions from the creators and owners of that music to:

• • Publicly perform sound recordings used within films, movie previews and advertisements; and
  • Play sound recordings as background music before and after film screenings – in theatres, foyers and any other public cinema spaces.

In addition, Cinema Exhibitors also require permissions from the creators of the underlying musical work (the music and lyrics) contained within films and when music is played as background music in public cinema spaces, such as theatres and foyers. Up until now, Cinema Exhibitors required a music licence from Recorded Music NZ to license the use of sound recordings represented Recorded Music NZ and a separate licence from APRA AMCOS to license the use of musical works represented by APRA AMCOS.

Following consultation and feedback received from Cinema Exhibitors across the motu, from 1 July 2025, APRA AMCOS and Recorded Music NZ will combine their Cinema licensing under OneMusic – a joint licensing initiative designed to simplify the process of music licensing for New Zealand businesses.

Importantly, if you held a Recorded Music NZ Cinema Exhibitors licence prior to 1 July 2025, there will be no change to the rights licensed by Recorded Music NZ and the other terms of your agreement with us, including no change to the rates you pay for RMNZ’s rights during 1 July 2025–30 June 2026, which are the same as previously and published here

Licence fees for Sound Recordings (period 1 July 2025–30 June 2026)
Annual rate of 0.06% of Gross Box Office Receipts (GST Exclusive)
Subject to a minimum fee of $75.00 +GST per 6-month period

What will happen for Cinema Exhibitors licensed by Recorded Music NZ before 1 July 2025 is that the administration of your licence will be done by OneMusic.

New licensees can apply for a Cinema Exhibitors Licence, including the rights controlled by Recorded Music NZ, by contacting jorge.marquet@onemusicnz.com or info@onemusicnz.com