OneMusic New Zealand

What OneMusic New Zealand does

OneMusic New Zealand is a joint licensing initiative established in 2013 by APRA AMCOS and Recorded Music NZ, operating as a trading name of APRA New Zealand Limited. The organization administers a unified music licensing scheme that grants New Zealand businesses legal permission to play commercially released music in public or commercial settings, consolidating what was previously two separate licensing regimes into a single transaction. Music licensing is mandated under the New Zealand Copyright Act (1994), making OneMusic a near-monopoly national clearinghouse with coverage spanning hospitality, retail, hair and beauty, fitness, dance, schools, councils, transport, places of worship, and 10+ other verticals.

The platform is built around an online self-serve portal (portal.onemusicnz.com) supported by phone, email, and PDF application channels, allowing businesses to select their industry, provide premises details, and obtain the appropriate licence. Underlying technology includes the Audoo Audio Meter, a plug-in music recognition device that fingerprints songs played in licensed premises and transmits usage data for royalty distribution. The organization processes over 330 million lines of music-use data monthly and holds reciprocal agreements with rights organizations worldwide, effectively covering the complete commercially released music catalogue.

Commercial revenue is generated through licence fees calculated by business type, premises size (square metres), number of members or classes, or per-resident rates for councils. Fees are collected by OneMusic and passed through to APRA AMCOS and Recorded Music NZ (after minimal administration costs) for distribution to songwriters, composers, publishers, recording artists, and record labels. Distribution relies on a mix of direct digital sales, inside sales for enterprise accounts, and industry association channel partnerships (Retail NZ, Hospitality NZ, Pharmacy Guild, etc.). The organization operates with a lean team of 6 employees and is restricted to the New Zealand market.

Name

OneMusic New Zealand

Legal name

APRA New Zealand Limited

Website

https://onemusicnz.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

OneMusic New Zealand is a joint licensing initiative between APRA AMCOS and Recorded Music NZ that grants New Zealand businesses a single legal licence to play commercially released music, serving SMBs across hospitality, retail, fitness, and other verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Licensing Services

NAICS

Music Publishers (51223), Sound Recording Industries (5122)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) & Public Performance Licensing (MPAIAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Mechanical Licensing (MLC/Local Equivalents, D2C/Streaming Mechanical) (MPAIABAD)

Keywords

• Music licensing services
• Public performance licensing
• Copyright royalty collection
• Music rights administration
• Commercial music licensing

Headquarters

HQ city

Mount Eden, Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Music Licensing Fees: OneMusic collects license fees from businesses that play music publicly. Fees are calculated based on business type, premises size (in square metres), number of members or classes, or per-resident rates for councils. The fees are distributed to APRA AMCOS and Recorded Music NZ after minimal administration costs, who then distribute to their members—songwriters, composers, publishers, recording artists, and record labels.
2. Digital Delivery Music Licence: Additional license required for businesses that use digital music services, download/copy music, reproduce music on devices, or play international radio/internet radio. This is a separate fee from the background music license.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

OneMusic New Zealand is a joint licensing initiative between APRA AMCOS and Recorded Music NZ that grants New Zealand businesses legal permission to play commercially released music from New Zealand and around the world in commercial settings. It offers a portfolio of industry-specific music licences covering hospitality, retail, hair and beauty, fitness, dance, schools, councils, transport, and more, with fees distributed to APRA AMCOS and Recorded Music NZ for royalty payments to songwriters, composers, publishers, recording artists, and record labels.

Product overview

OneMusic New Zealand is a joint licensing initiative between APRA AMCOS and Recorded Music NZ, offering a portfolio of music licences that grant businesses legal permission to play commercially released music. The core offering consists of industry-specific Music Licences covering 20+ business categories including Hospitality, Retail, Hair & Beauty, Pharmacy, Exercise, Dance, Music on Hold, Workplace, Clubs, Cinema, Bus & Coach, Places of Worship, Schools, Sporting Codes, Councils, Low Power Radio, Accommodation, Video, Functions, Digital Delivery, and Funeral Services. Additional products include the Audoo Audio Meter (music recognition technology device for accurate royalty tracking), PRESTO! (free e-book research guides), Sound Score Quiz (consumer research tool), and Sound Decisions Report (industry research publication).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• OneMusic Music Licences Core offering granting businesses legal permission to play commercially released music from New Zealand and worldwide in commercial settings, with fees distributed to APRA AMCOS and Recorded Music NZ.
• Hospitality Music Licence

Quantifiable outcome

• 38% of Kiwis have walked out of a business because of the music; 48% have stayed longer when the soundtrack felt right
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments21 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• APRA AMCOScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPRA AMCOS (Australasian Performing Right Association and Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society) established OneMusic together with Recorded Music NZ in 2013. APRA AMCOS represents songwriters, composers, and music publishers, licensing public performance of musical works and distributing royalties to creators.
• Recorded Music NZcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecorded Music NZ (previously PPNZ Music Licensing) co-established OneMusic with APRA AMCOS in 2013. They represent recording artists and record labels, licensing public performance of sound recordings and distributing royalties.
• Retail NZcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial preferred supplier partner. Retail NZ is New Zealand's leading retail trade association providing retail advice, member benefits, industry information, and government lobbying. Advises members on compliance including music licensing requirements.
• Restaurant Association of New ZealandcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner. Provides advice, education, and advocacy for restaurant members. Advises on compliance issues including music licensing requirements.
• Hospitality New ZealandcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner. Provides advice, education, and advocacy on behalf of hospitality members. Advises on compliance issues including music licensing requirements.
• Exercise New ZealandcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner. Organization providing advice, education, and advocacy for exercise and fitness members. Advises on compliance including music licensing requirements.
• Hair & Barber New ZealandcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner. Industry association for hair and barber professionals. Advises members on compliance including music licensing requirements.
• New Zealand Association of Registered Beauty ProfessionalsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner. Industry association for beauty professionals. Advises members on compliance including music licensing requirements.
• Dance Aotearoa New Zealand (DANZ)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner. National support organisation for dance in Aotearoa. Advises on music licensing for dance schools and instructors.
• Bus and Coach Association of New ZealandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner. Represents bus and coach companies. Helps raise awareness about music licensing requirements for transport operators.
• Pharmacy Guild of New ZealandminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMembers receive discounted rates on OneMusic licenses. Guild administers licensing to members directly.
• Clubs New ZealandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational body representing over 300 clubs across Aotearoa including RSAs, sports clubs, and community clubs. Helps raise awareness around music licensing requirements.
• Te Whakarōputanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa (formerly NZSTA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdministers OneMusic school licenses on behalf of OneMusic. Manages the 'Read More, Hear More, See More' portal for school license activation.
• Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand (FDANZ)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNegotiated discounted rates for FDANZ members on funeral services music licensing. Members obtain licenses at discounted rates as part of membership.
• AudoocoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner providing the Audoo Audio Meter™ for music recognition in licensed businesses. Audoo is backed by investors including Björn Ulvaeus (ABBA founder). Devices help identify songs played for accurate royalty distribution to artists.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ASCAP: US performing rights organisation licensing public performance of musical works to businesses nationwide. Same fundamental business model as OneMusic NZ (per-PRO public performance licensing) but in a far larger and more competitive market.
• BMI: Second major US performing rights organisation competing with ASCAP, collecting public performance royalties from businesses. Comparable PRO business model serving restaurants, retail, fitness and similar verticals to OneMusic NZ.
• SOCAN: Canadian PRO licensing public performance of musical works. Operates the same per-venue licensing framework for businesses as OneMusic NZ, with industry-specific tariffs covering hospitality, retail, fitness and similar verticals.
• APRA AMCOS: The parent body that co-owns OneMusic NZ and operates across Australia and NZ collecting public performance royalties for songwriters, composers, and publishers. Direct governing entity rather than an arm's-length competitor.
• GEMA: Germany's PRO administering public performance rights for musical works. Operates the same statutory licensing model as OneMusic NZ and offers industry-specific tariff structures analogous to OneMusic's vertical licences.

Direct peers

• SoundExchange: US non-profit collecting digital performance royalties for sound recordings — closest analogue to Recorded Music NZ's role within OneMusic. Particularly relevant given OneMusic's Digital Delivery Music Licence growth vector.
• Re:Sound (Canada): Canadian music licensing collective administering public performance of sound recordings — comparable role to Recorded Music NZ within OneMusic. Industry-vertical tariff structure mirrors OneMusic NZ's segmentation.
• PRS for Music: UK performing rights organisation collecting public performance royalties on behalf of songwriters, composers, and publishers — functionally equivalent to APRA AMCOS's role within OneMusic NZ. Operates the same licensing model for UK businesses.
• Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL): UK organisation that licenses public performance of recorded music on behalf of record labels and performers — equivalent to Recorded Music NZ's role within OneMusic NZ. Combined with PRS for Music it mirrors the OneMusic dual-licence structure.

Regional players

• OneMusic Australia: Sister joint licensing initiative between APRA AMCOS and PPCA, offering the same unified public performance licence model in Australia. Direct counterpart to OneMusic NZ operating under nearly identical structure and reciprocal music rights framework.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/OneMusicNZ
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCfounding-Year: 2013
• Facebookfacebook.com/OneMusicNZ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/onemusicnz

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about OneMusic New Zealand