Licensing

Music is all around us - in shops, cars, restaurants and on TV.

Before making any copies it's important to understand the basic rules surrounding the reproduction (copying) of sound recordings and music videos.

ARIA provides licences on behalf of participating sound recording and music video rights holders (ARIA Licensors) to individuals and organisations who wish to make legitimate reproductions (copies) of sound recordings and music videos for specific limited purposes (such as commercial background music suppliers). Through our licensing services you can access a wide range of sound recordings and music videos from major record companies and independent labels.

You will almost always need a licence before copying any sound recordings or music videos, whether for public performance or your own personal use (unless one of the very limited "fair dealing" exceptions or private and domestic use provisions in the Copyright Act applies). Copyright applies regardless of the source - whether you downloaded it from a legitimate internet site or copied it from a commercially available CD that you have purchased.

For those interested in the reproduction of sound recordings for private home video use, there is now a joint ARIA / AMCOS agreement to cater for this, administered by AMCOS. Please call AMCOS on (02) 9935-7900 for further information.

In addition, for those interested in the reproduction of sound recordings for the purpose of their dance school, there is also a joint ARIA / AMCOS agreement for this which is administered by AMCOS. Please call AMCOS on (02) 9935-7900 for further information.

Below you will find sound recording reproduction licence application forms and answers to frequently asked licensing questions. If you still need further assistance, email the ARIA licensing team at business.affairs@aria.com.au, and we'll be happy to help.

Sound Reproduction Licence Application Form

ARIA Licensing Copyright Owners & Labels

Licensing FAQs