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PPL-PRS joint venture launches

PPL PRS Ltd, which will serve as a one-stop shop for public performance licensing in the UK, has been inaugurated in Leicester

By IQ on 01 Mar 2018

The PPL PRS Ltd board, with MD Suzanne Smith at far right

The PPL PRS Ltd board, with MD Suzanne Smith at far right


British collection societies PRS for Music and PPL have formally launched their long-planned joint venture, PPL PRS Ltd, which provides a single point of contact for the licensing of music to be played in public.

Based at Mercury Place in Leicester, the 200-person company is jointly owned by both organisations, who say the introduction of a combined licence – known as TheMusicLicence – will make it “easier to play and perform music in public” by eliminating the need for individual licences from each company.

“We have invested years of effort and millions of pounds to simplify music licensing for UK businesses and on behalf of PRS for Music, I am delighted to launch what is the largest joint venture of its kind in the world,” says PRS chief executive Robert Ashcroft. “This is the beginning of a new era in public performance licensing, which will bring real benefits to our members and customers alike.

“This is the beginning of a new era in public performance licensing”

Suzanne Smith, MD of PPL PRS Ltd, adds: “We are very excited to now offer customers of both PPL and PRS for Music a more streamlined approach for licensing their businesses to play and perform music. With the launch of TheMusicLicence we are providing one licence and one contact, enabling companies and organisations to enhance their customer and employee experience by playing music in their premises.”

PRS for Music (formerly the Performing Right Society) collects and distributes royalty monies on behalf of songwriters, composers and music publishers for the use of their musical compositions and lyrics, while PPL (Phonographic Performance Ltd) does the same for performers and record companies for recorded music.

PRS is expected to publish its new tariff for concerts – currently a flat 3% of gross receipts – imminently, after changes were approved late last year live music industry associations and stakeholders.

 


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