Your legal obligations under Australian law for karaoke.

To summarise , APRA does not licence DJ's or karaoke operators  per-se, they licence the venue in which you will perform.  If you have any questions regarding an APRA Performance licence please direct them to licence@apra.com.au  However you are unlikely to require one of these if you are performing in an established venue (bar, restaurant, nightclub) that should already be covered with a licence.  This is also the case if you are DJing in domestic settings (parties at people's homes). This said, you should contact the PPCA in case you require a DJ licence from them. They can be reached on 02 8569 1111 or www.ppca.com.au  

If you are performing using the original format only (CDs/vinyl/pre-loaded hard drive purchased from supplier/direct downloads to device performing with) legally bought by yourself, you will not require a licence from AMCOS either.  However, it is always best to keep receipts as proof of original purchase (especially regarding pre-loaded hard-drives) in the event you are questioned regarding having a licence to copy/perform copyright music.  If you have any questions about this matter you can contact MIPI (Music Industry Piracy Investigations) via their web site www.mipi.com.au

The licence you will need if you are indeed personally format shifting music for DJ or Karaoke purposes (eg. CD tracks to Hard Drive) is an AMCOS Casual Blanket Reproduction licence. To reproduce commercially released music for public performance purposes you are required by Australian Copyright Law to cover both the publishing and sound recording rights in a song.  AMCOS represents music publishers and ARIA/PPCA represent the record label's sound recordings.  For more information regarding ARIA/PPCA licences for the reproduction/use of the records label's sound recordings you will need to contact ARIA directly on 02 8569 1144 or licensing.mail@aria.com.au

However, for the reproduction of karaoke tracks we advise that you contact the original supplier for their permission.

In regards to the publishing rights, the AMCOS Casual Blanket Reproduction licence covers the format shifting of the songs from one format to another.  This licence covers the reproduction of a large number of tracks.  The licence fee is as follows:

For Audio:

12 cents per track for the first 2000 tracks
10 cents per track for the next 2001 to 5000 tracks
8 cents per track for 5001 tracks and above

Minimum fee $66 inc.GST (this allows for 500 audio tracks)

For Karaoke (fee includes print royalty):

17.5 cents per track for the first 2000 tracks
14.5 cents per track for the next 2001 to 5000 tracks
11.5 cents per track for 5001 tracks and above

Minimum fee $96.25 inc.GST (this allows for 500 karaoke tracks)

Once you have completed and returned the form available from AMCOS (which also acts as your agreement) you will be invoiced for payment.  The licence is a casual licence so please state the duration of time you would like to be covered on the form.  This is usually 6 months or 1 year.  This is not automatically renewed.  If you wish to extend this licence period in order to reproduce further tracks you have to re-apply.  You do not need a new licence for the tracks already copied within the original licence period.  The application form asks for the amount of tracks you wish to reproduce in the stated period.

For independent advice on music copyright you can contact the Australian Copyright Council at www.copyright.org.au and/or the Arts Law Centre at www.artslaw.com.au .