Australia bumps radio royalties 38%, but artists want more

Australian musicians just scored a royalty bump from radio, but the industry says it's still getting shortchanged. A tribunal raised broadcast rates paid to recording copyright owners by thirty-eight percent. The decision increases the cut from the radio sector's total revenue, though a legal cap continues to limit potential earnings.

The new rate applies retroactively. Industry group PPCA argued radio's role in promoting music has sharply declined with streaming's rise. The tribunal agreed, noting that past discounts for promotional value no longer fit the modern landscape.

PPCA CEO Annabelle Herd stated the ruling highlights how the existing percentage cap restricts artists. She said it prevents Australian performers from receiving broadcast royalties comparable to those in other international markets. The cap was a decisive factor throughout the legal proceedings.

This marks the first new agreement between broadcasters and recording companies in decades. The previous deal had expired and continued on a temporary basis for years. PPCA had proposed a sliding scale model tied to music content share, but the tribunal maintained the industry-wide revenue percentage method.

The group plans to keep pushing for the removal of the statutory royalty ceiling.