Copyright Agency distributes ‘record $141.6 million’ for the year

28 November 2012 Books+Publishing

The Copyright Agency distributed ‘a record $141.6 million’ to its members in 2011/12, according to its annual report, released ahead of its AGM to be held today.

Of this, payments to authors and publishers were worth $114,618,382. The agency also paid $26,674,729 to collecting societies in Australia and overseas, and $351,340 to visual artists for resale royalties collected on their behalf.

‘Of the $114,618,382 distributed to authors and publishers who are then required to ensure all other rightsholders in a work receive their entitled share, $18,916,474 was paid to author members first, while $95,701,908 was paid to publisher members first for on paying distribution,’ said the report.

The report shows that 43% of all payments to copyright holders were for books.

The agency reported that for the 2011/12 financial year, ‘overall, education sector fees grew by 4.1% to $93.3 million’.

The agency also reported that it had distributed $618,629 through its cultural fund, down slightly on the $897,374 distributed via the fund the previous year.

The Copyright Agency reported ‘total revenue of $126.1 million, with growth of 2.6% from the previous year’.

Category: Local news