Australasian Performing Right Association Limited (APRA) is a non-profit service organisation, established in 1926, administering the rights of the world’s songwriters, composers and publishers in New Zealand and Australia.
APRA represents over 50,000 Australasian members and over 2 million writers and publishers throughout the world under reciprocal, bilateral contracts with similar overseas service organisations. APRA administers the Performing Rights in music: that is, the right of performance in public and communication to the public*.
Since 1997, APRA has also managed the Reproduction Rights licensing business of the
Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS) including record manufacturing, broadcast mechanicals and production music**.
* Public performances of music include music used in pubs, clubs, fitness centres, shops, cinemas, festivals, whether performed live, on CDs or played on the radio or television. Communication of music covers music used for music on hold, music accessed over the internet or used by television or radio broadcasters.
** These include the manufacture of CDs, music videos and DVDs, the sale of mobile phone ringtones and digital downloads the use of production music and the making of radio and television programmes.