Frequently Asked Questions for Music Makers

APRA collects on behalf of the composer, songwriter and/or publisher.

PPNZ collects on behalf of the recording artist and recording label.

For example:

John plays in Band X with Kate and Tim, and John writes all the songs. Band X are signed to ABC Records who paid for their recordings.

In this case:

John receives a songwriting royalty from APRA.

John, Kate and Tim receive a Artist Direct royalty from PPNZ.

ABC Records receive a rights owner royalty from PPNZ.

Yes most definitely. PPNZ collects blanket licence royalties from broadcasters and distributes these royalties amongst the artists and the tracks registered in our database. If you do not register, we cannot pay you, and we do cannot distribute royalties retrospectively.

The amount which you may receive is determined by your airplay for that distribution year against the total amount of the airplay received by all other artists registered in the fund. A percentage based on the total NZ airplay content logged for the distribution year (i.e. for 2009 19.68%) of all monies collected by PPNZ is then set aside to be distributed amongst registered artists.These funds are collected from PPNZ licensors such as broadcasters, public performance venues or special use compilers and production houses.

No. PPNZ has the right to collect only in the territory of New Zealand. If you are receiving significant airplay in another territory, and you are not receiving royalties through your distributor in that territory (i.e. you are self-released) then it may be worth considering becoming a member of that territory's licensing company. A list of these companies can be found on the IFPI website.

PLEASE NOTE: at the current time terrestrial broadcasters in the United States are not legally obliged to pay royalties for broadcasting music, but digital & web broadcasters are.

Yes you do. As you own the copyright you are entitled to the artist portion (50%) and the rights owner portion (50%).

PLEASE NOTE: if you own and control the rights in recordings then you must be a signatory to the PPNZ Input Agreement in order for us to distribute the rights owner portion to you. Please use the "Membership, Distribution & Registration" enquiry form on the Contacts page for further information.

Yes. Because your record company owns the copyright to your sound recordings i.e the master tapes, it controls the broadcasting and public performance rights and is entitled to a 50% share of any royalties payable.

RAP Fund distributions are paid out annually. Distribution is usually carried out in July or August of each year.

Please refer to the ISRC page.

If you are a New Zealand resident and are either a self-released artist or an owner of a sound recording you may wish to become a member of PPNZ. PPNZ will then license music users and administer royalty collection and distribution on your behalf. However, you can choose to license your public broadcast and performance rights directly, and if so, you may wish to refer to the advice provided on the IMNZ website.

In a nutshell, PPNZ's right to license New Zealand businesses for the playing of sound recordings in public is conferred both under the Copyright Act 1994 and its various contractual agreements with a substantial number of both New Zealand recording artists and labels and overseas artists and labels (PPNZ's members). PPNZ is a not-for-profit (non-government) "licensing body" created under the Copyright Act to license the copyright in sound recordings owned or held by artists and record labels. These copyright owners provide a mandate to PPNZ under contractual licences to allow PPNZ to act on their behalf.

PPNZ is a non-Government not-for-profit licensing body. Its revenue (less operating costs) are fully distributed to its members and consequently there is no profit on which to pay income tax. It is the individual recipients of the distributions made by PPNZ (i.e. record companies or artists) who are responsible as individual taxpayers to declare income received and pay the relevant tax due.

PPNZ does however, pay withholding tax on interest earned from royalty income prior to the income being distributed.

PPNZ mandate agreements with our members are "non-exclusive". This means that music users are free, at any time, to arrange licensing directly with individual copyright holders. PPNZ offers a "blanket licence" product which provides the permission of a large number of sound recording owners at one time in respect of their communication, public performance and certain reproduction rights.

As mentioned, this blanket licence is not the only way music users can obtain permission from these labels and artists. You are free to approach them all direct and negotiate individual licence fees for the repertoire of music you wish to play.