In this episode, I speak with Sarah Eaton, Manager Major Events and Sport at OneMusic Australia, about when events and businesses need a music license and the copyright risks of playing music without permission.
Sarah explains what OneMusic is, how it combines APRA AMCOS and PPCA rights, and how licensing and royalty distribution work for venues and events, including set lists and reporting.
We discuss common scenarios like awards nights, DJs in cafes, live performers at activations, stadium music at AFL games, and misconceptions such as “my event is free,” “I have Spotify,” or “the venue covers everything.”
Sarah outlines typical fee structures and minimums, turnaround times, and how to check coverage and apply via onemusic.com.au.
00:00 Meet OneMusic Sarah
00:55 Why licenses matter
05:25 How royalties get paid
07:05 Sports stadium music
10:20 Awards night checklist
18:07 Find the right license
20:39 Compliance and consequences
22:04 Why licensing helps artists
23:24 International equivalents
24:50 After event responsibilities
25:22 Reporting Unlicensed Events
26:22 Spotify Playlists and Liability
27:44 Cafe DJ and Live Music Licenses
29:25 Event Licensing and Setlists
32:22 Common Licensing Myths
35:17 Spotify for Business Explained
36:19 Venue Coverage and Turnaround
38:16 Enquiries and Dob-In Fears
40:42 Why Royalties Matter
42:49 Final Takeaways and Resources
Direct link to OneMusic website for music licenses for events - https://onemusic.com.au/licences/events