Industry works together on Australian music

Commercial radio stations in Australia are required under the Commercial Radio Code of Practice  - Australian Music  - to play a percentage of music between 6am and 12 midnight seven days a week that is performed by Australian artists. In 2017, public comments were made after the BIGSOUND Conference in September that the music industry had concerns that some commercial radio stations were not consistently meeting their Australian music quotas. These comments followed discussions in a closed session at the Conference. 

APRA AMCOS and ARIA considered the issue, and the matter was raised directly with Commercial Radio Australia (CRA) in December 2017. More recently APRA AMCOS, ARIA and CRA met and agreed to work collaboratively to determine whether non-compliance is a real problem and, if so, the extent of the problem and how it could best be addressed.

The three organisations will now work together to obtain and review relevant data. While any stations that are not compliant will be contacted and requested to address the issue, it should be noted that CRA expects that the majority of Australian commercial radio stations will be found to meet their quotas and as in the past in some cases exceed them. This process is a voluntary joint process and does not form part of Code compliance requirements.

In general, in relation to any part of the Code (including the obligations relating to Australian music), if a listener has a complaint in relation to compliance the process is that they write directly to the station concerned.  The station must then reply in writing within 30 business days. If the listener is not satisfied with the response, they may then escalate the complaint to the Australian Communication and Media Authority (ACMA), the regulator responsible for oversight of media and communications codes of practice. The Code can be found at commercialradio.com.au.

For the full statement, see http://apraamcos.com.au/news/2018/march/industry-works-together-on-australian-music/

2018 APRA Awards nominations announced

Nominees for the 2018 APRA Music Awards to be held on Tuesday 10 April in Sydney have been announced.

Leading the nominations with four nods a piece are Grammy Award winning songwriter and producer M-Phazes (Universal Music Publishing), who is nominated for his songwriting collaborations with Amy Shark and Illy, and PJ Harding, (pka Thief) (Universal Music Publishing) nominated for APRA Song of the Year with co-writers Ivy Adara (Kobalt Music Publishing obo Prescription Songs) and Louis Schoorl (Kobalt Music Publishing obo I Am A Sherpa Music, Amsterdam Central Music and Seven Peaks Music) for Fallin' (performed by Jessica Mauboy) among other categories.

In the hotly contested Song of the Year category, APRA members have voted for Amy Shark (Mushroom Music obo UNIFIED Music Publishing) for the second year in a row, this time for Weekends. Paul Kelly (Sony/ATV Music Publishing) and co-writer Billy Miller are nominated for Firewood and Candles while Gang of Youths frontman David Le’aupepe’s (Universal Music Publishing) song What Can I Do If The Fire Goes Out? is also a contender. Ainslie Wills and Lawrence Folvig (Sony/ATV Music Publishing) round out the category for Running Second.

For the full list of nominees, see http://apraamcos.com.au/news/2018/march/2018-apra-music-awards-nominations-announced-with-producer-songwriters-leading-the-charge/.

AMPAL congratulates all APRA Award nominated writers and publishers!

Join EveryOneBand - The World's Biggest Band!

EveryOneBand has opened its doors to invite everyone to make music history! It's free to join, there are no auditions needed and YOU could be a part of something huge.

EveryOneBand already has over 1200 members including Midnight Oil (Peter Garrett, Rob Hirst, Jim Moginie, Martin Rotsey, Bones Hillman),  Kasey Chambers, Paul Kelly, Cold Chisel (Jimmy Barnes, Ian Moss, Don Walker, Phil Small), The Preatures, DMAs, Powderfinger (Bernard Fanning, Ian Haug, John Collins), Murray Cook, Anthony Field, Jeff Fatt from The Wiggles, Kate Miller-Heidke, Ross Wilson, The Angels, Baby Animals, Moving Pictures, GANGgajang, The Church, Delta Riggs, Sheppard, Megan Washington, Kirin J Callinan, Deborah Conway, Mondo Rock (Eric McCusker, James Black, Paul Christie), Patience Hodgson, Wendy Matthews, Diesel, Richard Clapton, GANGgajang, Rai Thistlethwayte, Katie Noonan, Steve Balbi, Hayley Mary, Brendan Gallagher, Mark Williams, Eric Weiderman, James Valentine, Mark Gable, Leah Flanagan, Alex Smith, Gary Pinto, Jade MacRae, Peter Maslen, Café At The Gate Of Salvation gospel choir and many, many, many more.

These amazing artists have all joined EveryOneBand and are inviting YOU to join as well. They're also contributing to the band's first single, Stand By You - and want YOU to be a part of the biggest band and largest interactive recording project ever!

First step: visit http://everyoneband.com/ and simply hit 'join' and you're on your way.

Download backing tracks and anything else you need to record yourself singing or playing along

Send in your file and it’ll be added to the final mix. Easy!

The deadline for submissions is 20th April 2018 so get cracking! The single will then be mixed and released with 100% of all record royalties and all profit from merchandise going to Support Act, the Australian music charity assisting musicians, road crew and anyone that has worked professionally in music. EveryOneBand is shooting for a #1 and Gold record status. Join now to be part of something historic and to help raise as much money as possible for Support Act, the Australian music charity.

See the EveryOneBand website for all the information you need: http://everyoneband.com/.

For more information on Support Act, visit https://supportact.org.au/.

Ian James elected to the Board of the Independent Music Publishers Forum

The Independent Music Publishers Forum (IMPF), a grouping of 65 indie music publishers from around the world, held its annual General Assembly in London on March 07. A new Board of Directors for the term of 2018 - 2020 was elected at the meeting.  Ian James, Managing Director of Mushroom Music Publishing and also an AMPAL Board Director was elected to the IMPF Board at the meeting. 

The new Board is as follows: Simon Platz - Bucks Music Group Ltd. (UK), Annette Barrett – Reservoir/Reverb Music (UK), Julio Guiu Marquina - Ediciones Musicales Clipper’s, SL (ES), Niclass Bjorlund - Edition Bjorlund AB (SE), Halit Uman - Halit Music (FR), Maria Romana Francesca Trainini - Oyez! SRL (IT), Rolf Budde - Budde Music Publishing (DE), Rob Guthrie - (US), Pierre Mossiat - Strictly Confidential Music Publishing (Benelux), Filippo Sugar - Sugarmusic (IT), Teresa Alfonso - Teddy Sound SL (ES), Jake Wisely – Concord Music (US), Ichi Asatsuma – FujiPacific (JP), Justin Kalifowitz - Downtown Music Publishing (US), Ian James – Mushroom Music Publishing (AU), Teri Nelson Carpenter – Reel Muzik Werks (US), Paulina Golba – Golba Music (PL), David Alexander – Sheer Publishing Africa (ZA), Thomas Jamois – Velvetica Music Publishing (FR), Andrei Filip - K9 Music Publishing (ROU). 

IMPF President Pierre Mossiat opened the meeting by reporting on the Forum’s activities over the past 12 months. Guests and speakers included Robert Ashcroft, CEO of PRS for Music; Eddie Schwartz, President of CIAM; Victoria Campoamor, Head of International Music Publishing Partner Operations of YouTube/Google; Jake Wisely, Chief Publishing Executive of Concord Music; Annette Barrett, MD of Reservoir/Reverb; Teresa Alfonso, CEO of TeddySounds.

For more information see: http://www.impforum.org/

Congratulations Ian and all directors!

Closing date extended for Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition

The Vanda & Young Song Competition has announced a new closing date of 5PM AEDT 15 February 2018.

AMPAL is proud to once again sponsor the Competition.

Songwriters worldwide are invited to enter the 2018 Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition to go into the running for a first place cash prize of A$50,000, courtesy of APRA AMCOS, Alberts and BMG.  Two runners-up cash prizes are also on offer with second place receiving A$10,000 thanks to AMPAL and third place taking home A$5,000 courtesy of media sponsor, Seventh Street Media. An exciting addition to the prize slate this year is A$5,000 for the best ‘Unpublished’ work.

Since the prestigious competition began, it has not only boosted the careers of winners Megan Washington (2009), Kimbra (2011), The Preatures (2013), Husky Gawenda (2014) and Gretta Ray (2016), but to date has raised over A$800,000 for Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia (NRMTA).

For more information and entry details, go to: http://apraamcos.com.au/vandayoungsongcomp/ 

Winners of the 2017 National Songwriting Competition announced!

The winners of the 2017 Australian Children's Music Foundation National Songwriting Competition have been announced!

Every year, every student from every school across Australia is invited to put pen to paper and enter their original song for a chance to win prize-money that can be allocated towards musical equipment and tuition, as part of the ACMF’s annual National Songwriting Competition. The annual National Songwriting Competition is a nationwide initiative designed to encourage creativity and self-expression through songwriting. Since its inception, over 30,000 songs have been written for the Competition. “Songwriting is a highly creative process. We want kids to free their imagination and engage with learning in a fun way” – Don Spencer, Founder & CEO.

AMPAL is very proud to sponsor the 2017 competition.  AMPAL General Manager Matthew O'Sullivan remarked that "for music publishers, it is extremely important to encourage the next generation of Australian songwriters, so that we can all continue to hear great Australian stories through music.  The National Songwriting Competition and the work of Don Spencer and the ACMF is incredibly important in providing that encouragement."

For the full list of winners and to hear their entries, see: http://acmf.com.au/winners-nsc-2017/

Congratulations to the winners and to all entrants!  

AMPAL 2017 Board Election Results

At the 2017 AMPAL Annual General Meeting on 22 November, the following Directors were declared as re-elected to the AMPAL Board:

Matthew Capper (Warner/Chappell Music Australia Pty Ltd).

Jaime Gough (Native Tongue Music Publishing).

Clive Hodson (Perfect Pitch Publishing).

Ian James (Mushroom Music).

Damian Trotter (Sony/ATV Music Publishing).

Matthew Capper was returned as Chair, and Clive Hodson was returned as Deputy Chair.

The AMPAL Board is elected by the AMPAL membership.

Click here for the full list of the current AMPAL Board.

2018 Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition Now Open

AMPAL is proud to once again sponsor the Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition, which is now open.

Songwriters worldwide are invited to enter the 2018 Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition to go into the running for a first place cash prize of A$50,000, courtesy of APRA AMCOS, Alberts and BMG.

Melbourne singer-songwriter Gretta Ray earned top honours in last year’s competition for her beguiling song Drive. “The Vanda & Young prize made a huge impact on what I have achieved in the last year. It assisted me in being able to travel overseas to America, write and work on new music there with amazing people, and provided me with the time to wholly focus on my music. That in itself is a gift,” said Ray.

Two runners-up cash prizes are also on offer with second place receiving A$10,000 thanks to AMPAL and third place taking home A$5,000 courtesy of media sponsor, Seventh Street Media. An exciting addition to the prize slate this year is A$5,000 for the best ‘Unpublished’ work.

Since the prestigious competition began, it has not only boosted the careers of winners Megan Washington (2009), Kimbra (2011), The Preatures (2013), Husky Gawenda (2014) and Gretta Ray (2016), but to date has raised over A$800,000 for Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia (NRMTA).

The 2018 competition is set to take total funds raised since the inception of the competition past A$1million, with the full A$50 entry fee per song going directly towards the work of NRMTA, which uses music therapy to help people cope with the struggles of living with a wide range of needs. These include children and adults with physical and intellectual disabilities, autism, trauma, illness, dementia, behaviour disorders and learning difficulties.

This year’s judging panel features some of the best ears in the business with over 40 songwriters, producers, media and industry professionals confirmed to take part. They include three-time APRA Songwriter of the Year Daniel Johns, electronic artist and triple j host KLP, ARIA-winner Montaigne, and The Bamboos’ Lance Ferguson, co-writer on the Kungs vs Cookin’ On 3 Burners global smash This Girl.

Daniel Johns said, “Vanda & Young took Australian songwriting to the world and blazed a trail for the rest of us to follow. I’m pleased to be involved as a judge for the first time and I am looking forward to hearing some new music.”

Named after the iconic songwriters and founding members of The Easybeats, Harry Vanda and the late George Young, the competition launch coincides with a month of celebrating one of Australia’s most loved bands with a vinyl reissue, a two part mini-series Friday On My Mind on the ABC, and a tribute EP, Rebeat.

David Albert, Managing Director of Alberts said:
“Alberts is thrilled to continue its long-term association with APRA AMCOS and also partner for the first time with BMG for the 2018 Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition.  This competition recognises the significance Harry Vanda and the late George Young have to the music community through their legendary songwriting partnership, and provides a great opportunity to support Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia.”

Heath Johns, Managing Director of BMG Australia said:
“BMG is very proud to partner with our friends at Alberts and APRA AMCOS for the 2018 Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition. The competition provides a unique platform for songwriters to have their music heard by some of the country’s finest songwriters and also contribute to an important cause. The prize money on offer should also make a meaningful difference to the eventual winner’s career and we are very happy to get behind that.”

Matthew O'Sullivan, General Manager of AMPAL said:
AMPAL is very proud to support the Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition.  It is a fantastic competition that provides a great opportunity for songwriters, while at the same time contributing to the life-changing work of Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia.

Entries close 17 January 2018.

For more information and entry details, go to: http://apraamcos.com.au/vandayoungsongcomp/ 

2017 Screen Music Awards Winners Announced

The 2017 Screen Music Awards winners have been announced.  Australian screen composers were honoured as winners in front of their peers at the awards ceremony at the Recital Centre in Melbourne. Staged jointly by APRA AMCOS and the AGSC (Australian Guild of Screen Composers), the event paid tribute to composers across 12 categories who impressed a panel of judges with their work in the previous year.

Screen composer Antony Partos (Animal Kingdom, The Rover, Redfern Now) has taken out
the Feature Film Score of the Year award for his original score for the Australian feature film Jasper Jones.

Elliott Wheeler (Sony/ATV Music Publishing (Aust) obo Twenty Fifteen Avenue Music) won the award for Best Music for a Television Series or Serial for his work on Baz Luhrmann's The Get Down. 

Composer Martin Armiger was presented with the inaugural Distinguished Services to the Australian Screen Award.

AMPAL members Sony/ATV Music Publishing (Aust), Kobalt Music Publishing (Aust) and BMG AM each represent winning composers at this year's awards.

For the full list of winners, see http://apraamcos.com.au/news/2017/november/2017-screen-musicawards-winners-announced/.

Congratulations to all award winners and nominees!

The Economic Contribution of Australian Copyright Industries

The Australian Copyright Council has just published a report by PwC on the Economic Contribution of Australian Copyright Industries 2002-2016. 

This is the fifth report of its kind commissioned by the Australian Copyright Council. Based on World Intellectual Property Organisation methodology, this research facilitates a comparison between Australia and other economies over time.  

The report shows that copyright industries continue to make a significant contribution to the Australian Economy.  

The PwC report found that copyright industries:  

• Employed over 1 million Australians (approximately 1,022,000 people), which constituted 8.6 per cent of the Australian workforce.   

• Generated economic value of $122.8 billion, the equivalent of 7.4 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP). 

• Generated just over $6.6 billion in exports, equal to 2.7 per cent of total exports.  

• Copyright industries are the 3rd biggest industry in the Australia economy.    

The PWC report was launched at the Copyright Law and Practice Symposium on the 12th October 2017, and is now available to the public.

For more information and to view the report: http://www.copyright.org.au/acc_prod/ACC/Research_Papers/PwC_Report-_Value_of_Copyright_Industries.aspx

APRA AMCOS announces new Chief Executive Officer

The APRA Board of Directors has today announced that Dean Ormston will succeed Brett Cottle as the organisation’s Chief Executive Officer when Brett steps down on 30 June 2018.

Dean currently heads APRA AMCOS’ Member Services division and has over 20 years’ experience with the organisation in both member services and licensing areas. He holds a Bachelor of Education in Music, a post-graduate qualification in marketing and is a graduate of the High Potentials Leadership program at Harvard University.

APRA’s Chair, Jenny Morris, said: “The APRA Board is thrilled to announce Dean’s appointment to this crucial role. Dean has for many years been a brilliant and highly respected member of APRA’s senior management team. We have no doubt that Dean will bring a fresh and innovative approach to leadership, while building on, and safeguarding, the strengths and traditions of the organisation.”

In warmly welcoming the appointment, AMCOS Chair, Ian James, said: “Among Dean’s many skills is his wonderful ability to communicate the importance of music and to advocate the case for music creators in government circles. His recent experience in that role will stand the two collecting societies in excellent stead moving forward.”

Outgoing CEO Brett Cottle noted that “the Board could not have chosen a better or more qualified leader for the organisation. Apart from being tremendously capable, hard-working and dedicated, Dean is a fantastic person. He will provide great vision and inspiration for the extremely talented workforce we have at APRA AMCOS, and most of all place the members’ needs first and foremost in all circumstances.”

For more information, see http://apraamcos.com.au/news/2017/october/apra-amcos-announces-new-chief-executive-officer/.

2017 APRA Silver Scroll Awards winners announced

The 2017 APRA Silver Scroll Awards winners have been announced at a ceremony held at Dunedin Town Hall, New Zealand.

Lorde has won the 2017 APRA Silver Scroll Award for her international hit song 'Green Light'.  The song was written by Ella Yelich O'Connor (SONGS Music Publishing / Native Tongue Music Publishing), Jack Antonoff (Sony/ATV Music Publishing), and Joel Little (EMI Music Publishing).

The award acknowledges excellence in songwriting and has been given to some of the most recognisable names and songs in New Zealand music during its 52 year history, from the Swingers’ ‘Counting The Beat’ and Bic Runga’s ‘Drive’ to Scribe and P Money’s ‘Not Many’.

Native Tongue Music Publishing composer Claire Cowan was awarded Best Original Music in A Series for ‘Hillary'.

Also on the evening, Dunedin Band The Clean were inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame.

The full list of award winners is available at: http://apraamcos.co.nz/news/2017/october/2017-apra-silver-scroll-winners-announced/.

Congratulations to all winning and nominated composers, songwriters and publishers!

The Price of Piracy campaign launched

The Price of Piracy campaign mounted by Creative Content Australia (CCA) has been launched following the ruling by the Federal Court which orders Internet service providers to block websites that offer copyright-infringing content (Roadshow Films Pty Ltd & Others). Orders were also made in a separate case lodged by Foxtel in the Federal Court.

Since the first site-blocking orders were made in December 2016, the Federal Court has ordered 65 piracy sites to be blocked, and over 340 domains. The decision confirms the creative industry's contention that pirate sites infringe copyright and harm copyright holders' ability to recoup their investment in film and television content.

Creative Content Australia has developed two TV spots featuring Bryan Brown - a 30-second and a 15-second version - which will screen in most cinemas, together with a significant presence on free-to-air and subscription television and on selected websites.

The Price of Piracy website is at: https://www.thepriceofpiracy.org.au/.

2017 Art Music Awards - Winners Announced

Composers, performers and educators have been announced as winners at the 2017 Art Music Awards held in Sydney on 22 August, jointly staged by APRA AMCOS and the Australian Music Centre.  Together the winners represent the most outstanding contributions of 2016 across the genres of contemporary art music, contemporary jazz and experimental music in 11 national categories and 8 state / territory categories.  

Also at the Awards, the The Award for Distinguished Services to Australian Music (as determined by the APRA Board of Writer and Publisher Directors) was presented to the legendary John Pochée OAM for his influential and visionary work as a jazz drummer and bandleader.

The list of winners is available at: http://apraamcos.com.au/news/2017/august/2017-art-music-awards-winners-announced/.

AMPAL congratulates all winners and nominees!

Australian Children's Music Foundation National Songwriting Competition Now Open!

The 2017 National Songwriting Competition entries are now open!

Every year, every student from every school across Australia is invited to put pen to paper and enter their original song for a chance to win prize-money that can be allocated towards musical equipment and tuition, as part of the ACMF’s annual National Songwriting Competition. The annual National Songwriting Competition is a nationwide initiative designed to encourage creativity and self-expression through songwriting. “Songwriting is a highly creative process. We want kids to free their imagination and engage with learning in a fun way” said Don Spencer, Founder & CEO.  

AMPAL is proud to once again be sponsoring the National Songwriting Competition.  AMPAL General Manager, Matthew O'Sullivan, remarked that "Encouraging the songwriters of tomorrow is extremely important, and AMPAL is very pleased to support the ACMF and the National Songwriting Competition, open to all school students in Australia.  We can't wait to hear the great songs that will be created."

Entries close 20 October 2017 and entry forms and other information is available at: http://acmf.com.au/national-songwriting-competition/ 

Nominations for 2017 AMPAL Board Elections Now Open

In accordance with the Australasian Music Publishers' Association Limited (AMPAL) constitution, nominations for the position of board director can be received up until 60 days prior to the date of the annual general meeting (AGM).

The date for the 2017 AMPAL AGM is Wednesday 22 November 2017. Accordingly, nominations for the position of AMPAL board director must be received by the Company Secretary by no later than 5pm AEST Friday 22 September 2017.

Details of nominees will be provided to all eligible full members prior to the AGM and in accordance with the AMPAL constitution. The constitution is available at http://www.ampal.com.au/ampal-constitution.

For a copy of the AMPAL Board Nomination Form and to discuss your eligibility for nomination, please contact the AMPAL Company Secretary and General Manager, Matthew O’Sullivan, email matthew.osullivan@ampal.com.au.

Australian and New Zealand music publishing industry valued at more than AUD$235 million

The 2016 survey of AMPAL members has valued the Australian and New Zealand music publishing industry at just over AUD$235 million for the year. The survey included data from the industry collective management society APRA AMCOS, but it only related to royalties flowing through to music publishing companies and did not include money paid directly to songwriters and composers. AMPAL members provided confidential information to auditors Rosenfeld & Kant who aggregated the data. 

Free Is Not Fair campaign launched

The Copyright Agency and other Australian organisations representing musicians, authors, visual artists, educators, screen producers and publishers have joined forces to mount the #FreeIsNotFair campaign in response to a push by Big Tech and large organisations to water down Australia’s copyright laws.

The campaign’s website features leading Australian creators, such as musicians Jimmy Barnes and Josh Pyke, actor, director and writer Leah Purcell, mambo artist and musician Reg Mombassa and award-winning authors Anna Funder, Michael Robotham and Hazel Edwards, and encourages people to write to MPs and Senators to voice concerns about recent proposals to overhaul Australia’s copyright laws..

See https://freeisnotfair.org/ for more information.

Chris Butler elected new Chair of ICMP

ICMP (the International Confederation of Music Publishers) has elected Chris Butler, MPA UK, as its Chair taking over from Andrew Jenkins, Universal Music Publishing. At the meeting at MIDEM, the ICMP Board also elected its new Executive. Nicolas Galibert (CSDEM France) and Goetz von Einem (BMG) will serve as Vice Chairs, and Ralph Peer (NMPA US) and Rolf Budde (DMV Germany) as Treasurer and Secretary respectively.

Chris Butler is the worldwide Head of Publishing at leading indie The Music Sales Group, Chairman of MCPS and a board member of PRS, ICMP and the UK MPA.

More information: https://www.icmp-ciem.org/news/chris-butler-elected-new-icmp-chair-during-midem

Applications for the Screen Music Awards now open

Applications are now open for the 2017 Screen Music Awards, presented by APRA AMCOS in conjunction with the Australian Guild of Screen Composers (AGSC). The ceremony acknowledges excellence and innovation in the field of screen composition.

Applications are open across ten categories:

Best Music for an Advertisement, Best Music for a Documentary, Best Music for a Short Film, Best Soundtrack Album, Best Original Song Composed for the Screen, Best Music For Children's Television, Best Television Theme, Best Music for a Television Series or Serial, Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie and Feature Film Score of the Year.

Applications Tuesday 11 July, 5pm AEST.

More information: http://apraamcos.com.au/awards/2017-awards/screen-music-awards/