Australian Songwriter Royalties Rise to New Highs

Total songwriter and publisher payouts rose 8.8 percent in the 2026 financial year despite a dip in radio earnings.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Music — General

Australian Songwriter Royalties Rise to New Highs

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Australian songwriters and music publishers saw their total royalty payments increase by 8.8 percent during the 2026 financial year. This growth occurred even as radio royalty distributions fell by 5 percent to a total of $40.1 million.

Why it matters

The increase in total payouts reflects a shift toward more diverse revenue streams, such as streaming and public performance licensing. While radio remains a traditional platform, its shrinking share of total royalties highlights the growing importance of digital and public venue revenue sources.

APRA AMCOS reached $857.4 million in total group revenue for the 2026 financial year. Digital royalties currently account for more than 50 percent of total payouts, while radio royalties represent 4.7 percent of payments.

The players

APRA AMCOS

This organisation collects and distributes licensing fees for the public performance and communication of musical works in Australia and New Zealand.

This is a specialist body that hears and determines disputes relating to copyright and royalty settings.

The details

APRA AMCOS successfully increased licensing compliance across Australian businesses through the One Music campaign, which includes significant contributions from restaurants and gyms. Meanwhile, local music consumption on streaming platforms has experienced a 37.5 percent decline over the past five years, and 91.5 percent of music streamed by Australians is non-Australian.

1968: The year copyright law was enacted with a 1 percent royalty cap.
2024: Australian commercial radio station revenue reached $1 billion.
Fiscal Year 2026: APRA AMCOS group revenue reached $857.4 million.

Industry Dynamics

The broader industry is moving away from a reliance on traditional broadcast radio toward a digital-first licensing model. This trend follows the requirements of the 2026 Code of Practice, which forces commercial stations to balance music quotas against a changing listener landscape.

The shift in royalty streams suggests listeners will encounter a broader range of music in public venues like gyms and restaurants as licensing compliance increases. Conversely, the 37.5 percent decline in local music streaming suggests that listeners are increasingly opting for international content.

The takeaway

Songwriters are successfully diversifying their income away from traditional radio to digital and public performance platforms. Listeners should be aware that the music heard in public venues is now subject to more stringent licensing agreements, influencing the songs businesses choose to play.