FAQS

OnionUnlimited Radio is a PPCA and APRA AMCOS licensed internet radio station based in Queensland, Australia. We don't chase charts; we chase creators. Every artist you hear on OnionUnlimited Radio is an independent voice that deserves to be heard without asking for permission from the industry gatekeepers.

Most discovery platforms are just "ladders" to a mainstream station. You climb the ladders so you can eventually leave. OnionUnlimited Radio is the destination. We aren't a stepping stone; we're the main stage. We provide features others don't, like dynamic EPKs, direct artist-to-venue matching, and a community hub free from the noise of social media.

On OnionUnlimited, indie is the format. There is no side-stage or "indie corner" here. Every hour of every day, independent artists are the headliners.

No. We only play music by Australian independent artists.

OnionUnlimited Radio is about human expression. We do not accept or play tracks that have been entirely generated by AI (eg. prompt-to-song services such as Suno, Udio, or similar generative models). Songwriting, lyrics, and the primary arrangement and recording process must originate from real artists.

Assistive AI in mixing, mastering, or production is permitted in moderation, including industry-standard tools like iZotope RX or LANDR for tasks like noise reduction, audio repair, compression, EQ, and automated mastering.

Digital production processes involving tools such as DAW loops, MIDI, virtual session musicians, sequencers, synth patches, and drum machines, are also acceptable.

When approving submissions, we consider the human effort, original intent, and the ultimate artistic control the creator holds over the final piece. See our Terms & Conditions for full details.

If your track is a re-recording of a contemporary song that is still within copyright, we class it as a “cover version”. Your submission will be accepted, but only for presentation on your EPK+ artist page, with a preview and a link to a destination of your choice (Bandcamp, Spotify, SoundCloud etc). This is to showcase your work to fans, labels and gig organisers.

If your track is out of copyright — for example a “trad” folk or bluegrass song from the 1800s — we do not class it as a cover version. We are very happy to accept these fresh reinterpretations of, often centuries old, traditional songs for rotational airplay and on-demand play.

The reason we do not play contemporary covers on OnionUnlimited Radio is to ensure that the majority of our licence fees go directly to Australian independent artists who are writing fresh, new, original music.

When it comes to reporting non-original, out-of-copyright music, we do not report to APRA AMCOS (for songwriting royalties), but if your master recording is registered with PPCA, we do report it to them (for recording royalties).

When submitting your music, you will be asked to confirm whether the song is original or a cover version, so we can best place it in our ecosystem.

If the song is contemporary/in copyright, you should answer “Yes”. If your song is non-original, but out of copyright (eg. “trad”), please select “No” and select the “trad” genre. We treat these as eligible for airplay, not as contemporary covers.

Yes. OnionUnlimited Radio is APRA AMCOS licensed. We report all eligible plays to them. They collect the fees and pay the royalties to the registered creators. We do not pay artists directly.

Yes, for linear plays. We are PPCA licensed and report all linear plays to them. As with APRA AMCOS, they collect and distribute the royalties. We do not pay artists directly.

Yes. While OnionUnlimited Radio is primarily a linear station, we offer on-demand streaming (optional) to give independent creators more visibility. We only offer on-demand playback where a direct licence has been granted by the rights holder. On-demand airplay provides maximum exposure, ensuring fans and industry scouts can find, play, and share your tracks whenever they visit our platform. It turns your airplay into a permanent discovery tool rather than a one-time broadcast.

We report all on-demand plays to APRA AMCOS for songwriting royalties. PPCA royalties are only applicable to linear plays. By enabling on-demand plays, you grant us a direct royalty-free licence for the use of the master recording for on-demand purposes. To grant us this licence, you must be legally authorised to do so. This means you must own the rights to the recording or have written permission from all stakeholders (labels, bandmates, or producers). You represent and warrant this authorisation upon submission of your track.

You can still get airplay! You simply grant us a direct royalty-free licence for linear broadcast and, optionally, on-demand play. By submitting your track, you warrant that you are fully authorised to grant this licence and that it doesn't conflict with any other agreements you've signed. If you've not already registered your music with PPCA and/or APRA AMCOS, we highly recommend you do in order to receive royalties for linear plays. It's free!

Your music and related artist information may be used across OnionUnlimited, OnionUnlimited Radio, OURAD.IO, EPK+, TRXX, and MUSO GIGS. On-demand tracks are available globally. Linear broadcasts are limited to Australia due to PPCA licensing restrictions.

Yes. We can link to your website or preferred streaming or purchase platforms. We strongly recommend linking to Bandcamp, where you can receive payment directly from your fans.

Yes! OnionUnlimited Radio is a Business Member of QMusic, Queensland's peak body for the music industry. By maintaining a Business Membership, we ensure OnionUnlimited Radio is connected to the state's artist advocacy network. It gives us a seat at the table during BIGSOUND and the Queensland Music Awards, allowing us to better champion our local indie creators to the people who run the industry. We don't just play your music; we invest in the industry that supports you!

EPK+ is our official search and discovery engine, designed to get Australian indie artists heard and booked. It's where Australian indie artists can manage their artist profiles and tracks, plus publish their live gigs, social media links, and more!

OURAD.IO is our mobile app where fans can follow their favourite artists and create playlists.