Government schools
All government schools are automatically covered under agreements with the Department of Education in their State or Territory.
Non-Government schools
Non-government schools should check with their peak organisation to make sure that they have the appropriate licence coverage for their schools’ needs (eg the Association of Independent Schools, Catholic Education Offices and Commissions etc. in your State or Territory).
Licensed schools are permitted to do the following:
- Photocopy print music
Allows your school to make a limited number of copies of the print music that it owns, for educational purposes. All music copied under the agreement must be stamped “AMCOS LICENSED COPY”.
- Record or copy music and sound recordings
- make recordings of AMCOS musical works and ARIA sound recordings to be distributed to students for educational purposes.
- recover the cost of blank tape or CD.
- make audio and video recordings either of live performances on school premises, or copy existing sound recordings of music, for educational purposes.
- synchronise music and sound recordings to film, eg, making of student films. These films may only be shown on school premises to members of the school community. Films made for film festivals or to be screened elsewhere require separate licensing or permissions. Note: this does NOT cover the use of Production Music in films or audiovisual recordings. APRA|AMCOS offers special Production Music licence rates to warranted educational institutions. Contact our Production Music Department at for a copy of the rates and the warranty that must be completed prior to obtaining the educational licence.
- authorise parents of students from licensed schools to make video recordings of their children’s performances, for example, at a school concert – for domestic viewing only.
- Perform music outside of the class
Covers the majority of school performances and includes the playing of sound recordings (which are separately protected by copyright). Examples of performances that are covered include: concerts by pupils on the school premises; choir, band, and orchestra concerts; parades; playing CDs or tapes during or outside school hours; the playing of music in television and radio programmes; school socials, discos and dances; and aerobics sessions held at the school.
Read more about what’s allowed under these licences in Music Copyright for Schools.
How much do the licences cost?
Licence fees are paid for by your peak association to APRA|AMCOS.
Licence Fees for 2009 (inclusive of GST):
- AMCOS Schools' Photocopying Licence 59.43 cents per student
- AMCOS/ARIA Schools' Recording Licence 55.41 cents per student
- APRA School's Performing Licence 16.99 cents per student
Other Licences Schools may need
- A separate licence may be needed where music is used in performances that occur outside school premises and where admission fees are charged. Contact for more information – see Box Office/Ticketed Event.
- Performances by secondary students of musical works in a dramatic context, where admission is charged and the performance is advertised outside the school. A separate licence would be required for this use - see Music in Theatre.
- Performance of a large choral work of over 20 minutes in duration. See Music in Theatre.
- All or part of any music or lyrics composed for a ballet if the performance includes a visual representation of the ballet. See Music in Theatre.
- Performances by professional musicians whether or not admission is charged.
- Use of radio, tape, CD or pre-recorded messages and music via a telecommunication system to callers on hold. Annual fees vary according to the number of external telephone lines. See Music on Hold.
- Eisteddfods – the Eisteddfod organiser needs to apply for the licence. See Eisteddfods.
APRA|AMCOS information guides that schools may find useful
Further information
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General information about copyright can be obtain from the Australian Copyright Council.