Register as a Recording Rights Holder

If you own or control the copyright in sound recordings, you can register with Recorded Music NZ and authorise us to license your recordings to music users (on a non-exclusive basis) and collect distribute royalties to you.

This section sets out what it means to be a Rights Holder, how to register, what rights you grant to us and how to elect to become a shareholder of Recorded Music NZ should you wish.

If you own or control the copyright in sound recordings, you can register with Recorded Music NZ and authorise us to license your recordings to music users (on a non-exclusive basis) and collect distribute royalties to you. This section sets out what it means to be a Recording Rights Holder, how to register, what rights you grant to us and how to elect to become a shareholder of Recorded Music NZ should you wish.

What is a Rights Holder?

At Recorded Music NZ a Rights Holder is someone who owns or is the exclusive licensee for New Zealand of copyright in a sound recording and/or a music video.

• Copyright owners: In New Zealand, in the absence of any other agreement, the owner of copyright in a sound recording is the person who made the arrangements for the recording to be made. This person can be an independent recording artist, distributor or record label
• Exclusive licensees: You’re also a Recording Rights Holder if you have an exclusive licence agreement for New Zealand with the owner of copyright in a sound recording. An example of this would be a local record label/distributor releasing in New Zealand a recording owned by an overseas record label
• Other licensees: Certain non-exclusive licensees of copyright may be eligible to be Master Rights Holders and receive income from Recorded Music NZ

Pre-registration checklist:

To find out more about what’s involved in being a Registered Rights Holder, before registering with us and signing a Master Rights Agreement, you should read the following materials:

• Understanding Your Rights and Obligations – view page
• Understanding Music Copyright – view page
• Recorded Music NZ Constitution – download

You can view the current Master Rights Agreement here

How do I register?

To register as a Rights Holder, please complete, sign and return the Master Rights Agreement Acceptance form.

Aotearoa Registered Artists Scheme

If you are a recording artist, you might also wish to register as an artist in the Aotearoa Registered Artists Scheme. Find out more and register here

Elect to become a shareholder in Recorded Music NZ

Recorded Music NZ is a limited liability company governed by a Board of Directors, with a company constitution and shareholders.

The Master Rights Agreement acceptance form asks if you would like to become a shareholder in Recorded Music NZ.

Once you have registered as a Rights Holder you can choose to become an independent shareholder. There is no financial benefit in becoming a shareholder. The main benefit of becoming a shareholder is that it allows you to vote for the Board positions of Artist Representative Director and Independent Director.

If you would like to become an independent shareholder, please sign the shareholder acceptance section of the Master Rights Agreement Acceptance form.

If you previously completed a Master Rights Agreement acceptance form and opted not to become a shareholder but now wish to, please complete the Shareholder Elect Form

Please note that if you elect to become an independent shareholder, Recorded Music NZ is obliged to publish your name and address on the Companies Office register.

You can read more about the structure and governance of Recorded Music NZ here