Record revenue masks ‘devastating’ dip in local content
The music industry is thriving, but behind the dazzling revenue figures of Australia’s performance rights organizations, a more complex story of cultural shift, digital dominance, and existential battles for creator rights is unfolding.
APRA AMCOS Group has announced impressive financial results, achieving all-time high revenue of A$857.4 million ($599 million), an 8.8% increase from the previous financial year. This growth is fueled by a powerful combination of strong digital performance, expansive international licensing, and robust public performance revenue.
The net distributable revenue (NDR) for the group also soared, reaching A$755.7 million ($528 million), marking a 10.6% year-on-year jump.
The international reach of the sector reached new heights as well. As the organization celebrated its 100th anniversary, international revenue climbed to a record A$103.2 million ($72 million), successfully crossing the $100 million mark. This success was powered by global touring acts, including Ninajirachi, and the worldwide growth of animated content like Bluey.
At the core of this financial success is the digital shift. The “Digital” category stands as the engine room for APRA AMCOS, accounting for more than 53% of the total share, and growing by 12.5% compared to the previous period. Meanwhile, OneMusic’s public performance revenue also saw a healthy 10.9% lift, driven by strong gains in concerts, events, fitness, and restaurants.
However, this boom masks a growing concern about the health of homegrown music. A stark reality is emerging: the trend points toward Australians and New Zealanders increasingly tuning out of local content. Data reveals that over 91% of music streamed in the Australian financial year was imported, and the situation is even more pronounced in New Zealand, where 96% of music consumed was created by international artists.
This trend presents a significant challenge to the music ecosystem. As CEO Dean Ormston noted, if this trajectory continues, Australian members’ share of streaming is projected to fall to close to 5% within the next five years—a statistic described as “devastating.”
Amidst these economic and cultural shifts, the focus is turning to the future of creation itself. APRA AMCOS is actively advocating for a crucial principle: that creators must retain control over their work. The organization has taken a strong stand globally, committing to protecting and fairly remunerating human creators, and has lobbied the Australian Government to ensure that members are granted permission and receive payment whenever their works are used to train or generate AI content.
By continuing to push for this recognition, the organization maintains that the simple principles of copyright—permission and payment—must remain at the heart of the digital age, ensuring that the wealth generated by music serves its original creators.
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