Music licence

The University purchases a Tertiary Music Licence (through ARIA, APRA AMCOS, and PPCA) which allows for certain uses of music for student and staff audiences. This includes live performances at events, background music on campus, and use in teaching. The licence applies to music that is commercially available in Australia (you can search the included repertoire ) and has been obtained from a legitimate source, i.e. not illegally downloaded.

For further information, contact the Copyright Librarian with specific details of your proposed use of music. Some circumstances may require university departments to purchase additional licences.

Playing music on campus

Playing recorded music or giving a live performance is permitted in the following scenarios:

background music on campus (excluding at third party retailers)
free events or events where tickets are under $60 (excluding GST), including ones organised by the Flinders University Student Association or its clubs
at graduation ceremonies (any ticket price)
background music at the Flinders University Museum of Art (not as part of a performance)
for staff to listen to in staff work areas and at staff parties
hold music for telephones

These rules apply to playing or performing music. There are separate rules for filming these events for social media and using music in videos, please contact the Copyright Librarian for information about video use.

Using music for teaching purposes

Music can be used for educational purposes as long as the audience is restricted to Flinders students only.

Can play recorded or live music in an in-person or online class
Songs can be included in lecture recordings uploaded to FLO
Songs can be directly uploaded to FLO topic page
Songs can be edited into a video and uploaded to FLO
Students can perform a live recital (that is not being used in a dramatic context)
Students can edit music into a video that will be shown to the class or uploaded only to FLO

Dramatic productions (stage productions, ballets, musicals, etc.) require special licensing which needs to be planned well in advance. The Copyright Librarian can advise on where to seek these licences.

Restrictions of the music licence

The music licence does not allow:

use of song files that have been pirated
music to be used at events with tickets over $60 excluding GST (other than graduations)
music to be used at events being hosted or organised by a third party (e.g. Fringe at Flinders)
music to be used in advertising or marketing materials
for creating remixes, adaptations, parodies, or mash-ups
changing or substitution of lyrics
copying sheet music (other than 10% which can be uploaded to a Reading List)
performing choral works of more than 20 minutes duration
performance or video recording of musicals, ballet performances, theatrical performances and any other production that has a storyline
inclusion of businesses that are not owned by the university or that operate for the public. The university gym and other retailers are required to purchase their own licences

Contact the Copyright Librarian who can help arrange for your department to purchase additional licensing for scenarios not covered by the Tertiary Music Licence.