National Copyright

APPENDIX C

APRA Licence for the Public Performance and Communication of Musical Works by Schools

The Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) is a non-profit organisation of composers, authors and music publishers, which administers public performance, transmission and broadcasting rights on behalf of its members.

See 1.12: Collecting Societies

Copyright owners have exclusive rights over the public performance of their work which includes the:

live performance of a play, or a piece of music
performance in a school choir
playing of a sound recording
the showing of a film or a video recording.

All public performances of copyright musical works by schools, ie. outside the classroom, require a licence, for example at concerts, speech nights, fetes, Christmas carol nights, and at other venues outside the school premises such as shopping malls, town halls etc.

The APRA Licence grants each participating school a licence authorising the performance in public of any or all works within the APRA repertoire.

Most government and non government schools are covered by this agreement.

Definitions

Schoolsinclude all government primary and secondary schools and most non government primary and secondary schools.

Small performing rights:

performances by a choir or by musicians, of songs or music up to 20 minutes in length, in their entirety
the playing of music and lyrics of commercially distributed sound recordings, including the playing of radio

Dramatic context performances refer to dramatic context to a performance in conjunction with acting, costumes, scenic accessories, or other dramatic effects of works other than those specifically written for the stage.

Grand Right Works include vocal or other scores form musicals, operas, operettas. music theatre works, ballets, pantomimes and stage shows and large choral works (longer than 20 minutes duration).

What the APRA schools licence covers?

The APRA Licence covers the small performing rights of the public performance rights in music and accompanying lyrics. Under the APRA licence, a school and its students may perform musical works at the school or at a function connected with the school's activities.

The performances may be given:

at schools
by students and teachers of a school at non-school venues.

The following uses of music are covered by the APRA licence if they take place on the school premises:

playing music by way of CD players, television or radio
live performances or playing of recorded music at sports days or fairs
school concerts by students (choirs, singing groups, school band, orchestra or rock bands
school formals and dances
performance at school award nights or graduations
playing of recorded music for dance or fitness classes
the APRA licence applies to the playing of pre recorded music on audio cassette and CDs by an educational institution, unless a fee is charged.
The APRA licence also covers dramatic context performances by:
primary schools; and
secondary schools, but only if no fee is charged and the performance is not publicised beyond the school community.

What is not covered by the APRA licence?

Grand Right Works
Rock Eisteddfod competitions
interschool music festivals
Performances given by professional musicians, regardless of whether or not an admission fee is charged, may not be covered under the licence.

See 2.3: Musical Works

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