Music Composers Unite!

Any insights on the PRS?

Hello everyone,

Since a lot of my music has recently been licensed by a music library I was recommended to join a composers society. Since the local German GEMA has a fairly outdated rights system I've decided to join the PRS within this week. However, I'm breaking new ground with this and wanted to know if there are any specific things I have to consider. Some of them would be...

1. What's the situation on internet distribution? I have one track placed in a music library, as well as a downloadable product demo for Symphonic Orchestra. Most of my tracks are currently downloadable in general.

2. What are the costs I have to expect as a member of the PRS? I'm basically just starting through and since my studio equipment wasn't quite cheap I'm a little broke at the moment.

3. In 2010 I've scored a film that was shown several times on Sky in the UK just a few weeks ago. Is it possible to get the royalties from that retroactively?

I'd appreciate any help. I finally need to start making some real money with this job, otherwise it's over as fast as it started.

Thanks,

Denny

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Permalink Reply by Michael Tauben on June 10, 2011 at 5:34am

It used to be free to join PRS as long as you had at least 3 published works but now anyone can join for a small fee.

After that either 1) your publisher registers the work or 2) if the work is unpublished, you do it yourself online at their site.

The PRS administers royalties relating to performance and broadcast and it requires the user of your music to send to them a cue sheet of whatever music they use.

If the track you have in a library is exclusive to the company then they will administer any mechanical royalties ( sync rights, etc) and they will register the work with whatever society they belong to.

For unpublished works, if you know of definite performances, live or broadcast, you can notify the PRS when you register the work.

I doubt you will get any significant money for downloads and the rates for Sky are pretty low but you should keep track of every broadcast you know about and make sure you eventually get something. Again, it relies on someone at Sky sending in a cue sheet with the title of the work and the composer/s and the duration of use. PRS will pay your share (100% if unpublished and written by yourself) according to what the rate per minute is for the particular usage.

I hope that helps.

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Permalink Reply by Nigel Keay on June 29, 2011 at 3:31pm

I'm curious to know what it is it about the GEMA system that you consider outdated?

I can't really add more to the answers to your questions but could add that I believe under reciprocal arrangements between societies (internationally) they deduct 10% before passing on the royalty collected to the other society and that process might take a couple of years (from what I've learnt about how SACEM works).