APRA AMCOS updates music licensing with Microsoft Dynamics 365
APRA AMCOS has collaborated with Ernst & Young Australia (EY) and Microsoft to update its music licensing systems for businesses and creators across Australia and New Zealand.
The organisation, which represents over 124,000 songwriters, composers, and music publishers, is deploying Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance, Customer Service, Sales, and Customer Insights – Journey to deliver a simplified licensing experience via the OneMusic platform.
This move is designed to streamline how venues and businesses obtain music licences, reducing paperwork and approval times. The update aims to allow businesses to play music legally and efficiently, whilst providing quicker and more accurate payments to rights holders.
System overhaul
The introduction of Microsoft's cloud-based solutions marks a significant stage in APRA AMCOS' digital transformation. By modernising its internal systems, the organisation seeks to position itself as a digital-first business, improving engagement with customers and increasing revenue payments to its members.
Before adopting Dynamics 365, APRA AMCOS faced challenges common to many large organisations, including a lack of clear visibility into the customer lifecycle, fragmented customer data, and restricted automation in billing processes.
According to the organisation, the new system now serves as a single source of accurate information across business units. This upgrade has enabled staff to access real-time data, automate essential services, and make the customer service process more efficient.
Industry perspectives
This project is about making a real difference for everyone involved in music licensing. By updating the technology behind the scenes, we're helping APRA AMCOS become one of the world's first music licensing rights organisation to have a seamless, end-to-end solution to serve its members and licensees.
This statement came from Ean Evans, EY Regional Finance and AI-Enabled Automation Leader, Oceania, highlighting EY's role in the project's execution and its expected impact on the music ecosystem.
Kirsty Davison, Chief Customer Officer at APRA AMCOS, expanded on the intended benefits for both creators and licensees:
We want to make sure our members' music is protected and that they're paid for their work. This new platform is a big step towards making licensing simpler and faster for businesses to ensure creators get what they deserve.
The technology integration is seen as an important advance for APRA AMCOS' organisational capabilities. With Dynamics 365, the company reports improved access to unified customer data, automation of core services, and a more timely experience for clients seeking support.
Additional partner insights
Microsoft has also expressed support for the collaboration. Rik Irons-Mclean, Chief Technology Officer, Enterprise Commercial at Microsoft ANZ, stated:
We're proud to support APRA AMCOS and EY on this project. By implementing Microsoft Dynamics 365 for ERP and CRM transformation, we're making it easier for everyone to manage music licensing without unnecessary delays.
The switch to the new digital solution reportedly makes APRA AMCOS one of the first organisations of its kind globally to adopt such technology for end-to-end management of music licensing and rights administration.
The new approach underpins APRA AMCOS' ongoing efforts to protect the interests of its members while providing enhanced support to businesses that use music as part of their operations.
