Music in Universities

Making the Most of Music in Education is Making the Most of Music.

In 2005 the Australian Vice-Chancellors’ Committee (now Universities Australia) entered into an agreement with APRA, AMCOS, ARIA and PPCA that would cover its 38 universities for the majority of their music use. Music plays a huge role in education at a tertiary level, and not just in music-specific classes. Dance, drama, therapy, psychology and arts courses all use music, and that’s not even the half of it! The music you hear when you are on hold, the radio on in the back ground of the staff room and even musical works reproduced in video recordings made for educational purposes are all covered by this blanket licence.

The Music Copyright licence for universities broadly includes the following rights:

  • Music on hold
  • Playing music in the workplace
  • Performing music in public, other than where admission is charged or the performance is by a third party
  • Copying music or sound recordings for educational purposes, including synching with video images, making compilation recordings, streaming online for educational purposes

Who is covered?

There are 38 universities across Australia that are covered. For a full list, click here.

What does the licence cover?

The licence covers three key areas of music:

Reproduction (audio and video)

    • Making recordings to be played at or of a University Event, for example graduation ceremonies.
    • Allowing students and staff to make video recordings of University Events for their own private and domestic viewing.
    • Synchronising music and sound recordings with video recordings made for Educational Purposes, for example, student films and PowerPoint presentations.
    • Allowing use as part of a course of study for example lectures, or course materials (which can be streamed via a secure intranet Learning Management System as below).

Reproduction (intranet)

    • Making available and providing access to licensed audio and video recordings made under the agreement via the University Intranet. For example copies of recorded lectures, ‘live’ streamed lectures, access to recordings for course analysis.
    • This must be secure, with password access only for students and staff of that University only, and includes remote access for staff and Distance Education students.

Public Performance

    • Live performances of musical works at University events for Educational Purposes.
    • Playing sound recordings of musical works at free University events (this excludes third-party hire).
    • Within the workplace for University employees. For example, the use of a CD player in the staff room.
    • For Educational Purposes only, such as performances within a course of instruction (student union activities are separate and required additional licensing).

Music On Hold

    •  Use of musical works and sound recordings over a telephone on-hold system.

Limitations

While the agreement allows many uses of music with Universities, there are some limitations.
These include:

  • Downloading from or uploading to the Internet,
  • Forwarding to other parties via the Internet or email,
  • Making or using infringing copies,
  • Grand Rights or Dramatic Context Performances,
  • Performances where admission is charged,
  • Copying sheet music and/or lyrics,
  • Changing lyrics,
  • Using music for promotional purposes, and
  • Use of music and sound recordings by a third party organisation such as an on campus café or student union.

Making Copies of Print Music

Unlike schools, Universities and other institutions in Australia are not covered by a blanket photocopying licence from AMCOS to photocopy print music.

In some cases, Universities may rely on the Copyright Agency (CAL) statutory licence that allows the restricted copying, reproduction or communication up to 10% of a musical work for educational purposes.

If your usage falls outside this, you will need to contact the copyright owner. For more information, contact the Australian Copyright Council.

Contacting Us

Our Educational Licensing Department is always on hand to answer any questions you may have regarding the way you use music in your school. Call us on (02) 9935 7900 or send us an email at any time.

If you need publisher details, fill in our Publisher Request Form.

APRA|AMCOS Guides to Making the Most of Music in Education

Have some questions? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.

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