Comments on: PRS: Performing Rights Scam!

By: Scotch Broth

Scotch Broth — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:12:04 +0000

Why now? Where were the PRS people for the last few decades?

Every business in my wee town has been contacted by the PRS in the last couple of years.
The usual thing, workplaces with a radio and chip shop with a telly are getting phone calls/visits. They are bemused and unsure if they are being threatened by a governmental dept, or an organisation of music industry lawyers making a request?

If yu don’t pay what’s the result? Are there any examples?

By: THE MASKED SINGER

THE MASKED SINGER — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 12:55:56 +0000

WHAT A LOAD OF OLD RUBBISH, WHY ENTER MASSIVE DISSCUSSION AND ARGUMENT ..WASTED ENERGY ..PRS ARE A BUNCH OF CROOKS….. END OF …..

By: MJA

MJA — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 09:59:40 +0000

YES! we have the exact same issue in Denmark with a socalled sisterorganisation ‘Koda’/'NCB’. We cannot make our own music on a cd without their interferrence. Somehow they managed to control what to be printed and recorded on any media in our country. At the same time they can’t do anything for small producers and musicians, when it comes to illegal downloads. They are in bed with ISPs that wont let them check if people break the law, but earn money on musicians and play their music for almost nothing, without asking the socalled ‘members’ (musicians). They claim I can’t post an embedded youtube video on my site without paying royalties -’since they have an agreement with PRS’. In the danish press I’ve read they haven’t got an agreement(!), but they keep saying that when I talk to them. Is their anyway through contacting PRS that i can find out what agrrement they have with youtube? (sound like they are exactly as secretive as the danish KODA).

By: David Evans

David Evans — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:21:10 +0000

The much more interesting situation these days relates to digital downloads. As we understand it, the PRS and PPL existing agreements do not cover downloads and they are expecting their members to sign up to new agreements to cover these services.

We would be interested to know whether artists/record companies would consider a new collection society if its rates were lower than traditional rates and could over artists a greater percentage than the PRS / PPL were offering.

By: Rfmradio

Rfmradio — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 08:32:36 +0000

Hi Do what a lot of UK Businesses are doing and tune into http://www.rfmradio.co.uk Royalty Free Music Radio, NO PRS or PPL Fees if this is all you listen to.
Its as good as your mainstream radio stations just that we use quality unsigned bands, Profesional Dj hosted shows, News, Weather and entertainment.
O and did I say they were looking for a sponsor, is Kwik fit reading this?
New website – new look – new sounds – NO FEES – No Hassle – Music as it should be

By: Martin Crowley

Martin Crowley — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 16:36:37 +0000

Just to say that if you are a member of PRS, there is an on-line database that has access to all the artist information you require – so you can see what songs are represented etc.

By: Would Lady Gaga rather be Pirated than Spotted?

Would Lady Gaga rather be Pirated than Spotted? — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:11:53 +0000

[...] five figure $USD range, and the performing rights system probably does more to support their own bureaucratic infrastructure than it contributes towards paying her a sensible wage. It would be interesting to know exactly [...]

By: Music Lawyer

Music Lawyer — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:18:51 +0000

This article really is poorly researched.

”However, you don’t have to pay for royalties for artists who aren’t signed by the PRS, but they try to make you think that you just have to pay a blanket fee for all musicians!”

This is incorrect. If a venue hosts live music performances, you need a licence. Period. Just like a TV licence. PRS will then collect additional venue (3% of the box office for bigger venues) where writers whose songs they represent have their songs performed, whether it is performed by themselves or covered.

”In fact the PRS are only a small organisation here in the UK which musicians and record labels sign and pay a membership fee too, and then the PRS are supposed to actually just collect those public performance royalties for their members only!”

…. a small organisation who collect over £500m per year and employ almost 1000 people. Record labels do not sign up to PRS, they sign up to PPL.

”They say they “only deduct a small administration/commission fee to cover operating costs.” Who is controlling their use of their members’ money”

….Most standard (UK – its 50% in the US) publishing deal will see a publisher retain 30% of an artists earnings. The PRS collection fee is rarely higher than 7%. Go figure.

Dash- Mr Griggs is spot on. There are numerous instances when songwriters are not artists. There is a separate body, PPL, who collect income when a specific recording of a composition is played. The reason freelance journalists aren’t paid when someone else reads their newsarticle probably because it qualifies as a ‘fair dealing’ and is therefore permitted under the copyright act. A musician doesnt get paid when parts of their songs are reproduced in magazines under the same prinicipal.

By: PRS and YouTube Finally Come To An Agreement on Music Licensing Deal

PRS and YouTube Finally Come To An Agreement on Music Licensing Deal — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:11:21 +0000

[...] here at RouteNote we have been pretty critical of the PRS and how they go about their business. However, today the PRS and YouTube have finally announced [...]

By: Pirated Tracks on YouTube are Boosting Sales!

Pirated Tracks on YouTube are Boosting Sales! — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:28:02 +0000

[...] here at RouteNote we have been pretty critical about the PRS and how they go about their business here in the UK. On the other side of the pond it seems as though the BPI and other organisation are doing exactly [...]