ARA music licence scheme to benefit thousands of retailers

APRA AMCOS, PPCA and the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) have launched a joint music licence scheme to make it easier for retailers to access and reap the benefits of using music.

Many retailers previously needed to take out a range of individual licences with APRA AMCOS and PPCA depending on how they used music in their store. The new partnership with the ARA means less paperwork, a consolidated cost for busy retail owners and makes compliance with copyright law much easier.

ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said this is an opportunity for ARA members to see substantial savings in their music licence fees.

“Music is a big part of our retail experience. Research shows that music, especially recordings by well known artists, is an important factor in creating the ideal in-store atmosphere for the consumer, encourages longer browsing time and can positively influence the behaviour of customers.

“The ARA Music Licence Scheme, which comes into effect from 1 July 2015, will see a flat annual fee of $550 per store for retail premises under 500 m² in size. This will allow retailers to use a range of background music devices including radio, television, CDs, smartphones and streaming devices (depending on the streaming provider’s terms), providing access to millions of songs and recordings within the repertoire of APRA AMCOS and PPCA.

“With the ARA representing over 5000 national and independent retail members across Australia, a simple turnkey solution through their existing membership of the ARA will benefit thousands of small businesses countrywide,” Mr Zimmerman said.

PPCA General Manager Lynne Small said “'We are delighted to partner with the ARA and APRA AMCOS to create this joint licence for ARA members, which will reduce their administration while making available millions of recordings to improve the experience of their clients.”

APRA AMCOS stands for the Australasian Performing Right Association Ltd and the Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society Ltd, who together are responsible for the non-profit collection and distribution of songwriting royalties to approximately 87,000 songwriter, composer and music publisher members, and around 3,000,000 copyright owners worldwide.

PPCA is a non-profit organisation that provides licences to Australian businesses to play recorded music in public. The net fees are distributed to record labels & registered Australian artists who create the recordings so they can continue to make music for us all to enjoy. In 2014 PPCA distributed almost $33 million to its registered artists and record labels.

Since 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has been the peak industry body representing Australia’s $265 billion retail sector, which employs over 1.2 million people. The ARA ensures retail success by informing, protecting, advocating, educating and saving money for its 5,000 independent and national retail members throughout Australia.

Visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

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