MUSIC LICENSING 101
Why does my business need a music licence?
Music creators are no different from you, they too are business owners. Music creators need to be paid for their contribution to your business, just like you need to pay your coffee or vegetable suppliers.
Music is an important component to a business, the songs you choose to play aid in enhancing the space. Do you want upbeat songs for the morning coffee / breakfast rush, do you want more chilled tunes for the morning tea crowd, is lunch going to be slow and leisurely or is it fast takeaway food for corporates? However you use music, one thing’s for sure – music is integral in assisting you create the vibe for your business.
Music creators have exclusive rights to the music they create (as set out in the Copyright Act), and when businesses want to copy or play their music, music creators have the right to ask for payment for this use. This is one of the main ways music creators make a living, and enables them to keep making the songs we love to listen to.
OneMusic is the licensing arm of the two organisations that administer music rights in New Zeala
nd – APRA AMCOS (who represent songwriters and composers) and Recorded Music NZ (who represent the people that own sound recordings – usually record labels and recording artists). Both organisations are non-profit member organisations, meaning that after administration fees, all licence fees collected are paid to music creators as royalties.
Look out for the OneMusic Licensed to Play stickers – this shows the business is supporting music creators through holding a OneMusic licence. A OneMusic licence gives you a licence to play music from all corners of the globe, and helps to keep the world of music turning.
Learn more in this simple explainer animation:
Want to know more?
The OneMusic team are experts in music licensing – visit our website: www.onemusicnz.com, give us a call on 0800 800 663, or send us an email at info@onemusicnz.com – we’re here to help!
