I'm no legal eagle, but I'd assume the AOSMA or the Adelaide FC would have the appropriate license.
Otherwise it'll be a breach of music copyright laws in Aus?
Who owns the copyright in a piece of music?
There is generally more than one owner of copyright in any given musical track. The composer who wrote the music owns copyright in the musical works. The lyricist who wrote the lyrics owns copyright in the literary works. The artist who performed the music owns copyright in a sound recording of their live performance. Finally, the maker of the recording (typically a record company) owns copyright in the sound recording.
What rights do the copyright owners have?
The copyright owners (i.e., the owner of the work and the owner of the recording respectively) have a number of exclusive rights, including the right to:
- Make copies of the tracks;
- Perform the music in public (e.g., by playing the tracks in a hotel or function centre); and
- Communicate the tracks to the public.
Do I need any licences to play legitimately purchased music at my function?
Yes, if your function is being held at commercial premises (such as a function centre or hotel) then you will need to ensure that the owner of the premises holds a public performance licence from OneMusic Australia. OneMusic Australia is a joint initiative by Australia’s music copyright collecting societies (APRA AMCOS and PPCA). A single licence from OneMusic Australia covers the copyright in both the musical works and sound recordings.
If you are holding your function at your home, this is considered to be a private function and therefore you do not need to obtain public performance licences.
