PRS announces exemption to Small Online Live Concert licence following concerns from FAC, MMF & the artist community
“We are pleased that PRS for Music have listened to calls from artists, managers and others across the industry. It is a welcome step forward that writer-performers playing their own material will be exempted from paying for a licence at small-scale livestream shows.
We also welcome that PRS will now begin dialogue with artists, managers and other key stakeholders about the licensing of larger livestream events, and commit to agreeing a discounted rate while 'in-person' shows remain closed. Decisions around collection and distribution of revenue impact cross-sections of the music industry and cannot be taken on a unilateral basis. Therefore, we look forward to a full and inclusive consultation on these matters in the days and weeks ahead.”
David Martin, CEO, FAC & Annabella Coldrick, Chief Executive, MMF
Last week, PRS for Music announced a new licence for ticketed small-scale live-streamed gigs where gross revenue was below £500. The licence was announced without prior warning and without wider industry consultation.
The FAC and MMF set out the position and criticised the move, now following widespread reaction from all sectors of the industry, regarding the prohibitive cost and bureaucracy, PRS has announced an amendment to the policy. Shows where performers are performing their own songs will now be able to obtain a free licence.
There remain questions regarding other small shows and for shows grossing above £500. The FAC will continue to seek a broad consultation from PRS regarding these issues, which impact much of the industry.
If a member wants to perform an online ticketed live concert exclusively of their own works, where they will receive all the royalties due, they can obtain a licence at no cost to them.
The free licence will be available to any individual concert, which qualifies for the small-scale licence, with revenues below £500, throughout the period the live sector is forced to close due to the COVID-19 crisis where the qualifying member is the performer.
Qualifying members can obtain a free PRS licence for small-scale online ticketed events by emailing.
The amendment follows last week’s announcement for small-scale licences for online concerts, starting at a cost of £22.50 + VAT.
PRS has committed to “accelerating its ongoing dialogue with key stakeholders on an interim rate, while the physical live sector is closed, for online concerts in the coming weeks”, and are “committed to agreeing a discounted rate for larger concerts as soon as possible to make these licences available to the market”.
See PRS’s updated online live concerts Q&A.