The Australian Performing Rights Association has distributed 14% more in royalties to its members this year.

In the 2011/12 financial year over $250 million was collected from licence fees paid by radio stations and other organisations which use recorded music.

The increase has resulted from record revenue growth in the recording rights arm of its business, AMCOS, and from a program of accelerated distributions across all areas of its operations.

Revenue for the group, which represents songwriters, composers and music publishers, grew by 7.2% overall, to $257.4 million.

APRA revenue – representing music royalties for public performances, broadcasts and online communications – grew by 1.5% to $185.7 million, while AMCOS revenue – representing royalties from physical sales, digital downloads and other reproductions of music – grew by more than 25% to $71.7 million.

All in all, over 244,623 writers and publishers received an APRA distribution payment this past financial year – representing nearly a quarter of a million unique musical works.

Digital downloads have contributed significantly to the increases in royalties for music artists.

The 2011-2012 Year in Review report is now available.