A tiny Tasmanian council has been recognised at the 2026 APRA Music Awards for holding Australia’s longest-running music licence, stretching back a century.
King Island Council, which represents just 1,600 residents on the remote island, received a commemorative award at the ceremony on Wednesday.
The council’s licence dates back to November 1926, when APRA issued its very first music licence for a hall on King Island.
That licence has been held continuously, making it the longest-held music licence in the country.
It’s also the centenary of APRA itself, which is Australasia’s music rights management organisation representing songwriters, composers and music publishers.
When the licence was first signed, local halls were the heart of community life, hosting dances, concerts and film screenings.
Today, King Island Council still holds a OneMusic licence, a joint initiative of music rights organisations APRA, AMCOS and PPCA.
King Island Mayor Marcus Blackie attended the awards ceremony to accept the honour.
“We are incredibly proud to be recognised as Australia’s first music licensee,” he said.
“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.”
APRA CEO Dean Ormston said the milestone was a reminder that music licensing has a long history in Australia.
“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,” he said.
APRA still keeps the original physical licence at its head office.
