Joining the Performing Rights Society (PRS)
By: Shereef Ragab
If you're beginning to gain momentum as a band, artist, composer or singer, it's time to have a look at joining the Performing Rights Society. If your streams are increasing and you’re getting airplay, consider signing up. The PRS website has an amazing guide that takes you through the sign up process step by step.
https://join.prsformusic.com/s/
STEP BY STEP
FEES - There is a one time fee of £100 for joining. This does, however, mean that you can collect royalties wherever your songs are played. One play on a major broadcasting outlet will get you your £100 back.
You will want to sign up as a writer/composer
Bypass the option to join the Mechanical-Copywright Protection Society or MCPS. This society collects mechanical royalties when your work is placed onto a physical or digital format (usually from a secondary source). You will want to consider this option if your work is already being synchronised into TV programmes.
More about the MCPS:
https://help.prsformusic.com/s/article/what-is-mcps
PRS provide a calculator where you can look at your current reach and see if you qualify. One way to qualify for a membership is to gain 5 live performances at small venues such as cafes, 5,000 streams, 2 plays on Radio 1, and 10 plays on Independent Local Radio. This will be enough to be able to join the PRS and start collecting royalties.
You will need a credit card to pay for your membership and a passport or driving licence to verify your identity.
Read the legal documents before you officially sign up.
There are funding sources available that could cover the costs of joining the PRS but you have to be at a certain point in your career to get this. If you’re just starting out, the chances are that you will want to sign up to the PRS when you start getting traction.
Joining the Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL)
The Phoneographic Performance Limited license the use of recorded music. The whole purpose of joining the PPL is for you to collect royalties if you have performed on recorded music that has been broadcast or played in public. You could be a solo artist, the composer of a piece, or a contributing performer such as an accompanying musician - extra guitarist, percussion etc. You would be entitled to royalties every time the music was played in public.
https://www.ppluk.com/
It’s FREE to join PPL although PPL does deduct a small fee from any royalties collected but look at it this way - without them, you wouldn’t be able to collect any royalties!
There is a simple form to complete to join. Register as a performer if you are not sure what to go for.
You need to be over 18 to register. If the performer who wants to register is under 18, they need to be registered by someone over 18.
You will need:
Contact details
Bank and tax details
Signature, date of birth and address
Add your name and email and PPL will send an email to you to set up an account for you. You will need to set a password. Then add your details to the online account.
Then you will be ready to go!!