APRA AMCOS to pay $1.5m in live performance royalties for COVID-cancelled shows | Music News

Live performance royalty cheques will continue to roll in, even for those musicians whose shows were scrapped due to the Omicron variant.

Last week, APRA AMCOS announced it would pay $1.5 million in royalties to members for cancelled gigs that were scheduled to take place in Australia and New Zealand from 1 October, 2021 to 28 February 2022. The initiative is an extension to payouts made in 2020, when APRA AMCOS moved forward its performance report payments to May from November.

APRA Chair Jenny Morris said “just as it felt like things were starting to open up and live music was ready to kick off a successful summer season, the latest COVID-19 wave once again cancelled live events causing substantial financial loss and emotional strain to our members and the broader industry,” 

The APRA board approved this royalties measure “so that swift action can be taken to support our members and pay them for the royalties they would have made from the live performances of their songs,” 

With health departments at all levels “consistently failing to consult with the music industry” when establishing public health orders which determine if the show can go on, the PRO states, it’s the artists and organisers who are often left to make the call, usually late in the game.

While emergency funds for major events have been announced in recent weeks and months by the Victorian and New South Wales governments, APRA AMCOS reiterates its call on government at all levels to provide wider support to a range of enterprises.

The deadline for APRA AMCOS members to submit for royalties is 28 February 2022 with payments to be distributed in March.

For members who did perform live during the period, APRA notes, the live performance royalty will be fast-tracked for payment in March.