Tertiary music licence

Using music for teaching purposes

A licence negotiated between the collecting societies and the university sector, known as the Tertiary Music Licence allows recorded music to be used for teaching and certain university purposes. These activities are covered below.

Tertiary music licence: Tier One rights at UNE

The Tertiary music licence is a licence granted from APRA, AMCOS, ARIA and PPCA for the use of both music and sound recordings at UNE. A summary of the licence is provided below, but broadly, it covers certain uses for educational purposes, university activities, some events plus other purposes.

Download the complete guide to the Tertiary music licence.

Performance rights

Tier One Universities are permitted to Perform APRA Works and PPCA Sound Recordings:

  • At free University Events;
  • For Educational Purposes;
  • Play music for the benefit of employees (in staff rooms, staff tea rooms and at staff-only events such as Christmas parties).
Reproduction and communication rights

Tier One Universities are permitted to Reproduce and Communicate Works:

  • Play AMCOS Works and ARIA Sound Recordings at University Events;
  • Play AMCOS Works and ARIA Sound Recordings for use in a course of instruction;
  • Play AMCOS Works and PPCA Sound Recordings as music on hold;
  • Make audio and audio-visual recordings of free University Events where music is performed or played;
  • Make those recordings available for sale in a physical format for University Purposes;
  • Make audio and audio-visual recordings of AMCOS Works and ARIA Sound Recordings for Educational Purposes;
  • Synchronise AMCOS Works and ARIA Sound Recordings with visual recordings made of University Events or in the course of instruction; and
  • Store licenced recordings on a password protected University Platform (such as a learning management system) or in a physical format and allow access for University Purposes.

The licence does not cover the copying of music videos.

Making physical copies

Copied recordings may be deposited in the library for student access and distributed to students on CD or DVD. The CDs or DVDs may be sold to the students so long as the price is set only to recover costs. The recording (on its packaging, labelling or file heading) must display the following:

  1. The following notice:
    This recording has been made by the University of New England under the express terms of an educational licence between it, AMCOS, and ARIA, and may only be used as authorized by the University of New England pursuant to the terms of that licence.
  2. The following information:
    The title of each musical work;
    The name of each composer, lyricist, and arranger of the musical work; and
    The artist or group name and the record company label.
Online copies

Copies may be placed on a server for student listening, with access restricted to UNE staff and students. The streamed music files must be in a format that cannot be downloaded. It is a licence requirement that all copies must carry:

  1. The following notice:
    This recording has been made by the University of New England under the express terms of an educational licence between it, ARIA, AMCOS, APRA, and PPCA and may only be used as authorised by the University of New England pursuant to the terms of that licence.
  2. The following information:
    The title of each musical work;
    The name of each composer, lyricist, and arranger of the musical work; and
    The artist or group name and the record company label.

The notice and credits should be displayed before the streaming starts.