Copyright and music at UniSQ

The Tertiary Music Licence allows music to be used in Courses by staff and students.This includes:

• playing or performing music in a class
• supplying students with music through the Learning Management System
• adding music to pre-recorded lectures
• use of background and feature music in student performances for coursework. Use of music in a dramatic context is not permitted.

Educational use of music must be restricted to the classroom or StudyDesk.

Any videos that contain sound recordings for this purpose are required to be stored on a password-protected University platform and cannot be made available to the public.

The Tertiary Music Licence permits background music to be played in spaces wholly owned and operated by the University even if they are open to the public such as retail, hospitality, art galleries and museums. Other business activities open to the public, independent businesses and affiliated groups including some student clubs need separate licensing to use background music.

Music can be used by University owned fitness centres, childcare centres and for use on telephone hold systems. Please contact Copyright Services with queries.

The agreement allows music to be performed at many University of Southern Queensland events and graduations. This covers a live performance of a musical work or playing a sound recording over speakers. It is also possible to live stream these events on the UniSQ website but not our social media. These videos can be hosted on StudyDesk and Course Readings.

Each event is different, so if you are holding an event and wish to use music, please contact Copyright Services.

To do the following we will need an additional licence:

• use of music with substituted lyrics or in a burlesque
• use of music at an event where tickets cost more than $40
• performance of music in a Dramatic Context (use music in a storyline and/or with a narrator or characters)
• performance of Grand Right Works in their entirety (e.g. Rocky Horror Picture Show or Chicago) or choral works of more than 20 minutes’ duration
• use of music in Audio Visual productions that will be published in any format.

If you are want to modify any music or organise a musical performance, please contact Copyright Services.

The Tertiary Music Licence is not the only way to make use of music. Also consider:

• whether your use of music fits within the available copyright exceptions for fair dealing
• Open Access or Creative Commons licenced music
• whether you need additional licences from OneMusic (APRA/PPCA).

Please contact Copyright Services for assistance with alternative music licensing.