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PPL & PRS For Music join hands for new venture

The UK’s two music licensing companies, PPL and PRS for Music, have this week launched their joint venture to create one single company – PPL PRS Ltd – to administer the licensing of music used in public, known as “public performance”.

In 2016, the two companies generated almost £270 million through the licensing of live and recorded music to businesses and organisations – from bars, pubs and clubs to hairdressers, fitness centres and hotels. After running costs, this revenue is distributed to their respective members – performers and record companies for PPL and songwriters, composers and publishers for PRS for Music – and acts as an important income stream for the music business. The new joint venture will be the biggest of its kind in the world.

The 200-person company is based in Leicester and is equally owned by PPL and PRS for Music. It has been created to provide customers with a streamlined service, a single point of contact, and one licence covering both companies’ respective rights, thereby simplifying the administration and making it easier to play and perform music in public. The joint licence is called TheMusicLicence and brings to an end the need for customers to purchase separate PPL and PRS for Music licences from each individual organisation.

Commenting on the official launch of the new company, PPL Chief Executive Peter Leathem said, “In PPL’s 84 year history, the joint venture with PRS for Music is without doubt the most ambitious project that we have undertaken. To navigate the complexities and achieve it within two years is testament to our close working relationship with PRS and the commitment of our respective teams. This is an important moment for the music business at large and is a move towards greater efficiencies for our licensees and greater returns for our members who create the music enjoyed by those we license all around the UK.”

PRS for Music Chief Executive Robert Ashcroft added, “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. This is the beginning of a new era in public performance licensing, which will bring real benefits to our members and customers alike.”

PPL and PRS for Music will continue to operate separately in the other areas of their businesses, including representing their members, collecting royalties from international societies, developing, setting and consulting on their respective tariffs and licensing schemes, and licensing broadcast, online and recorded media customers.