The UK’s two music licensing companies PPL and PRS for Music have launched their joint venture, PPL PRS Ltd, to provide a licence to businesses and organisations for the use of live and recorded music.
The firm will administer the licensing of music used in public, which was previously administered seperately for performers and record companies through PPL and songwriters, composers and publishers through PRS for Music.
The joint licence is called TheMusicLicence and brings to an end the need for customers to purchase separate licences from each individual organisation.
It has been created to provide 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.
In 2016, PPL and PRS generated almost £270 million through the licensing of live and recorded music to businesses and organisations.
Those include bars, pubs, clubs, hairdressers, fitness centres and hotels.
After running costs, this revenue is distributed to their respective members.
The new joint venture is a 200-person company based in Leicester and equally owned by PPL and PRS for Music.
Its board (pictured) is made up of PPL PRS senior management team members as well as representatives from the two companies.
“In PPL’s 84 year history, the joint venture with PRS for Music is without doubt the most ambitious project that we have undertaken. This is an important moment for the music business at large.”
peter leathem, ppl
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.”
“This is the beginning of a new era in public performance licensing, which will bring real benefits to our members and customers alike.”
robert ashcroft, prs for music
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.”
“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.”
suzanne smith, ppl prs ltd
Suzanne Smith, who was appointed in April 2017 to the position of Managing Director for PPL PRS Ltd, concluded: “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.”
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.
Music Business Worldwide
