Music Licensing

Not so long ago only a handful of "Big Name" bands made it to New Zealand in any given year - now it seems there is an act in town every week. Why this sudden resurgence in touring? Simple, they are making up for lost income because of the dramatic decline in CD sales. As well as this the organisations who manage the collection of music licence royalties on behalf of the composers, performers and publishers of music are becoming increasingly vigilant in asserting their rights. In practical terms, this means that merchants must ensure that they are complying with their obligations.

As one of only four licensed retail Compilation Service Providers in New Zealand we can assist with ensuring compliance either through a subscription to our Retail Radio service or by assisting in the development and proper licencing of a merchant's own library.

Short Summary of Licences in a Retail Store:

APRA             Australasian Performing Rights Association

PPNZ              Phonographic Performances (NZ) Ltd

AMCOS          Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society

APRA Background Music License

  • Every commercial entity playing music in a public place, from whatever source, has to pay this license.
  • The cost is based on the number of devices used (CD / DVD / Video / TV / radio / jukebox) and the size of the store. APRA provide a table of charges which in this current year range from $54.21 to $571.33 per store per year.
  • (Included in a Retail Radio subscription.)

PPNZ - Public Performance Tariff (Site License)

This tariff is payable by any entity playing music in public, from any source other than a commercial radio station. It is based on the floor area of the commercial premise and is payable annually by the store directly to PPNZ. Retail Radio subscribers qualify for a 10% discount.

Store Size

0-1500m²

1501-3000m²

3001m²+

 

Annual Tariff

 

$154.50

$309.00

$618.00

 

Retail Radio 10% Customers' Discount

 

$139.05

$278.10$

$556.20

 

Monthly

 

$11.59

$23.18

$46.35

Playing own CDs / compiling CD playlists

Any stores playing their own CDs must also comply with the following:

PPNZ Compilation License

  • $5,000.00 non-refundable deposit off-set against charges accrued in the compilation of songs.
  • $1 per track for all songs which are used, a report to be compiled and paid quarterly
  • $14.25 per month per store - report compiled and paid quarterly
  • (Included in a Retail Radio subscription).

AMCOS Casual Reproduction License

  • Assuming not all songs on any given CD are suitable, the store will probably want to both record specific tracks and download them from the Internet (which will cost around $1.30 per track). To legally mechanically copy these songs onto a system such as an iPod, MP3 Player or CDs, a Casual Reproduction License will be required for each location. Each license costs $100 plus GST per year for up to 500 songs, plus 20 cents per track over 500.
  • (Included in a Retail Radio subscription).