March 13, 2017

PRS for Music has launched a new online tool to help music creators at every stage of their careers better manage their royalties earned from live performances around the world.

The enhanced digital tool allows PRS songwriter, composer and publisher members to report set lists or programmes from live performances using any device, even on the move, via a tablet or smartphone. Members simply need to input when, where and what was played, giving them and their representatives more control over their live performance royalties.

In its first 24 hours of activation, over 1,000 set lists and programmes, and 2.5 million seconds of music were reported to PRS for Music from live performances in 23 countries as far reaching as the USA and Japan. The tool has also captured live performances taking place in more unconventional venues such as New York University and Kulturkirken Jakob, in Oslo.

Ahead of its launch, the tool underwent a test period with 4,000 members which revealed performers were playing on average 12 tracks in their live sets, with some, 10%, playing over 20 tracks. During the test phase, 90% of performances were reported to have taken place in the UK, and of those that took place overseas the US, Germany and Republic of Ireland were the most popular destinations.

PRS says that the tool allows members to report any live performance regardless of genre or performance size, so whether it’s a gig at a local pub, DJing in a club, a classical premiere at a European concert hall or a show at a packed out arena there is now just one place for members to go. The ability to report UK festival performances is due to be released shortly, in time for the festival period.

This is the first of several new online tools PRS for Music plans to launch throughout the year to improve its digital offering to its 124,000 members. To read PRS for Music’s press release in full, click here.