29 April 2026
A 119-year-old, remote Tasmanian Council is the first organisation to hold a music licence for 100 years. King Island Council with 1,600 residents, was honoured at centennial APRA Awards, 29 April 2026.
2026 marks the 100th anniversary of the Australasian Performing Right Association Limited (APRA). APRA is Australasia’s music rights management organisation, representing songwriters, composers and music publishers.
Music licensing for the public performance of musical works was first introduced to Australia during the early days of radio, when broadcast media became the nation’s primary source of entertainment, alongside live music and dance events.
These licences ensured music creators were properly recognised and remunerated when their musical works were performed publicly. In the 1960s the advent of recorded music created more rights holders – the recording artists and record labels - under their own music rights management organisation, PPCA.
APRA’s very first music licence agreement was issued in November 1926 for a hall on King Island in Tasmania — a licence that remains active 100 years later.
At the time the licence was signed, local halls like this were multi-purpose hubs for their communities hosting social dances, concerts, and film screenings. Hired bands would perform from popular sheet music, crafted by Australian as well as international composers. Valencia, Tin Pan Alley favourite Baby Face and Bye-Bye, Blackbird would likely have been on the music rack.
Today, King Island Council still holds a OneMusic licence. OneMusic is the 2019 joint music licensing initiative of APRA AMCOS and PPCA.
In recognition of this centenary milestone, King Island Council Tasmania was honoured at the 2026 APRA Awards this week, receiving a commemorative award celebrating the first — and continually held since 1926 — music licence in Australia.
Marcus Blackie, Mayor of King Island, attended the ceremony to accept the award, highlighting a long-standing commitment to supporting music creators:
"We are incredibly proud to be recognised as Australia’s first music licensee. King Island Council has a strong history of respecting music makers, and we look forward to continuing to enjoy the songs that help make our community events so memorable and special."
“This recognition of a century-old licence serves as a great reminder that music licensing is nothing new, and that permission or a licence is required for any business playing music to the public – whether that’s a shop, fitness or dance studio, cafe, bar, restaurant, any business or organisation“ said Dean Ormston, CEO, APRA
Celebrating Today’s Licensees
In addition to honouring a century of licensing history, APRA also celebrated contemporary champions of music.
The 2026 APRA Licensee of the Year Award was presented to Marrickville favourite The Bob Hawke Beer and Leisure Centre, recognised for its outstanding commitment to music and creators. Known for its authentic retro atmosphere, the venue features everything from the Lucky Prawn dining experience and classic Countdown hits on rotation, to Richie Benaud commentary piping through the bathrooms — making it a standout destination and a proud OneMusic ambassador.
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