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If your Adelaide Fringe show contains music, whether recorded or live, you'll need to obtain a licence from OneMusic Australia. This ensures you have the correct permissions to use the music in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The Adelaide Fringe Festival does not have a central licensing arrangement with OneMusic Australia (APRA AMCOS and PPCA) to cover the music you plan to use in your show. Therefore, as a presenter, if you use music, you are individually responsible for ensuring you have licences in place prior to the commencement of your show.

Your licence will cover the public performance copyright of the various parties that created and own the music. This way, you don't have to contact the individual owners of each piece of music you wish to use in your show.

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What is OneMusic Australia?

OneMusic Australia is a joint initiative by APRA AMCOS and PPCA. Its purpose is to simplify the process of acquiring public performance music licences. Whenever music is performed to a non-domestic audience (through any medium), it's considered a 'Public Performance' under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth), which requires specific permissions. Additionally, the creators and publishers of that music (composers, lyricists, and publishers for APRA AMCOS) and those with a stake in the recorded music (for PPCA) are entitled to royalties, even if an appearance fee was paid to them.

OneMusic Australia facilitates these permissions through licences and has an exclusive right to administer them.

Adelaide Fringe Music Licensing

Music is commonly used in Fringe Festival shows for:

  • Curtain music
  • Walk-on/walk-off music
  • Scene change music
  • Music before, after, or at interval
  • Within the show as background or incidental music of any duration
  • Live music performance

Please note that performances of music in a Dramatic Context require a separate licence and additional time is needed to clear the music rights for these shows. Dramatic Context refers only to the performance of musical works:

  1. In conjunction with a presentation on the live stage that has:
    1. a storyline; and
    2. one or more narrators or characters; or
  2. As a Ballet.

Importantly, under the terms of an APRA Dramatic Context licence, some songs you wish to include in your show may not be available for use, or clearances may need to be obtained directly from a music publisher or a record label. Please apply 6 weeks before your first performance to allow ample time for the approvals process.

How to Obtain a Licence

If you are using music in your show, please complete the details on the OneMusic Australia Event Licence Enquiry Form as a matter of priority to ensure you secure the right licence cover.

For any questions, please contact the OneMusic Events Team via events@onemusic.com.au or by calling 1300 162 162 and selecting Option 2 followed by Option 1.

Summary

  • You are responsible for obtaining a music licence from OneMusic Australia if your show includes music.
  • OneMusic Australia simplifies licensing for public music performances, covering both creators and recorded music owners.
  • Shows with music in a Dramatic Context (storyline, characters, or ballet) require a separate licence and a longer application period (6 weeks before your first performance).
  • Contact OneMusic Australia directly for all licensing needs and apply early.

Additional Resources

Adelaide Fringe Department Contacts:

All information used in this post is a guide only. Artists and Venues should contact OneMusic Australia directly for further advice and clarification. All information was obtained from www.onemusic.com.au and was correct at the time of writing.