The organisation will be in Mildura, Swan Hill, Wangaratta and Echuca through to April 17, with representative Sarah Dore available in Echuca on Thursday, April 16, to meet with local businesses and answer questions.
Businesses playing music without the appropriate licence risk breaching copyright, with one Sydney gym operator ordered to pay $235,000 in damages, fees, interest and legal costs in a Federal Court ruling in December 2025.
Hundreds of businesses across the region already hold a OneMusic licence, which covers the majority of commercially released music worldwide and ensures compliance with copyright obligations.
The visit is aimed at demystifying licensing requirements for local bars, cafés, shops and tourism operators.
OneMusic is a rights management organisation representing songwriters, recording artists, music publishers and record labels.
Mildura-born country artist Tom Curtain said licensing fees were vital to the industry.
“As an artist, the royalties we receive through OneMusic are what allow us to keep writing, recording and touring,” he said.
“Those licence fees give working Australian musicians the breathing room to keep creating and sharing new music with audiences right around the country.
“As a tourism business owner myself, I also pay those same OneMusic fees because I understand, first-hand, that when we respect music licensing, we’re directly supporting the songwriters and performers who bring our venues, events and communities to life.”
OneMusic representative Charli Hutchison said misunderstanding licensing laws was common among businesses.
“One of the biggest misconceptions is that a Spotify or YouTube subscription covers music use in a business,” she said.
“In reality, most streaming services are for personal use only and don’t give businesses the right to play music publicly.”
Sarah Dore will be available in Echuca on Thursday, April 16, with local businesses able to arrange a time to meet and discuss their specific licensing needs.
15°C