• What is the difference between Recorded Music NZ and APRA?

    There are two separate copyrights in recorded music.

    Recorded Music NZ collects on behalf OF THE OWNERS or exclusive licensees of copyright in SOUND RECORDINGS Master Rights Holders. For more about Master Rights Holders click here. We also pay a portion of income to registered recording artists – for more about this click here

    APRA collects on behalf of composers, songwriters and/or publishers – owners of musical works.

    OneMusic is a joint licensing initiative between APRA and Recorded Music NZ for all public performance licensing, offering one music licence covering both sets of rights.

  • My recordings are receiving airplay on radio and TV Should I register with Recorded Music NZ?

    Yes, most definitely. Recorded Music NZ collects licence fees from broadcasters, webcasters and through OneMusic, businesses and organisations that play music in public. We then distribute these royalties amongst Master Rights Holders and Recording Artists based on the recordings registered in our database. If you do not register, we can’t pay you. We also cannot distribute royalties retrospectively, so it’s important to keep track registrations up-to-date.

  • How much do I get paid and where does the money come from?

    The amount you may receive is determined by your reported airplay/usage for that distribution year against the total amount of the airplay/usage received by all other recordings registered. These funds are collected from Recorded Music NZ licencees such as broadcasters, public performance venues or special use compilers and production houses. Public performance royalties may be collected through OneMusic, the joint licensing initiative between Recorded Music NZ and APRA.

  • I am receiving airplay outside of New Zealand Do you collect these royalties?

    For some territories, yes. Recorded Music NZ has bilateral agreements in place with PPL (UK), Sound Exchange (US) and PPCA (Australia). Due to differences in copyright legislation between New Zealand and these countries, conditions do apply on what recordings qualify so please check the information included here or contact our Member Services Team for more information.

  • My record company paid for my recording Do they receive anything?

    Yes. Because your record company owns the copyright to your sound recording i.e. the Master Rights Holder, it controls broadcasting and public performance rights and is entitled to a 50% share of any royalties payable.

  • How do I get an ISRC code?

    Please refer to the ISRC page

  • What gives Recorded Music NZ the right to license New Zealand businesses for playing sound recordings in public?

    Recorded Music NZ’s right to licence New Zealand businesses for the playing of sound recordings in public is conferred both under the Copyright Act 1994 and its various contractual agreements with a substantial number of Recording Artists and Master Rights Holders and international Master Rights Holders (Recorded Music NZ’s Members).

  • It appears Recorded Music NZ has a monopoly on music licensing Is this true?

    Recorded Music NZ mandate agreements (i.e. Master Rights Agreements – previously called Input Agreements) with our members involve a “non-exclusive” licence. This means that music users are free, at any time, to arrange licensing directly with individual Master Rights Holders. Recorded Music NZ offers a “blanket licence” product which provides the permission of a large number of Master Rights Holders and Registered Artists at one time in respect of their communication, public performance and certain reproduction rights.

    As mentioned, this blanket licence is not the only way music users can obtain permission from these labels and artists. Those using our members’ music are free to approach them directly and negotiate individual licence fees for the repertoire of recordings you wish to play.

Got pātai that aren’t answered here? Please let us know by emailing memberservices@recordedmusic.co.nz