Australian Record Industry Association

Representative body of the Australian music industry

The Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA) is a body which represents the interests of the Australian music industry. In conjunction with the Australian Music Retailers Association (AMR) it administers and supports the voluntary recorded music Labelling Code of Practice.

ARIA act as a domestic and international advocate for the Australian music industry. It provides an overarching, non-exclusive licensing function for copyright users, and plays a role in protecting copyright and the industry fight against music piracy, as well as compiling industry information and research. ARIA is responsible for collecting statistical information from members and retailers to compile numerous ARIA Charts; ranking albums and tracks by week, genre and year.

The organisation has more than 100 members from small ‘boutique’ labels, to medium sized organisations and very large companies with international affiliates. ARIA is administered by a board of directors which is comprised of senior executives from record companies, both large and small. ARIA is also the Australian International Standard Recording Code (ISRC) national agency, and allocates the Country and First Owner Codes to members for encoding on all audio and audio-visual recordings, as a method of identification.

ARIA holds as annual award nights known as the ARIA Music Awards. The association is also a supporter of the music industry’s benevolent fund, the Support Act Limited, which provides help to those in the industry who are facing financial difficulties.

ARIA began in 1956 as the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers (AARM). It was replaced in 1983 by ARIA which was established by the six major record companies operating in Australia; EMI, Festival Records, Sony BMG (previously the separate organisations CBS and RCA), Warner Music (previously WEA) and Universal (previously Polygram). It now also includes smaller record companies representing independent acts/labels.

Last updated by Brendan Yates (2009-10-23)