PPL breaks own international collections record

UK music licensing company PPL has announced that it collected a record £94 million of international monies last year (9.4% up on 2020) as a result of efforts to improve recording metadata and the identification of recording usage.

PPL has used the Virtual Recording Database of Brussels-based Societies’ Council for the Collective Management of Performers’ Rights (SCAPR) to better identify recordings and improve and share their performer line-ups. International royalties are an increasingly important revenue stream for performers and recording rightsholders.

Laurence Oxenbury, director of International at PPL, said: ‘It is fantastic that PPL has delivered a record result for the tens of thousands of performers and recording rightsholders who trust us with their international collections.’

PPL’s neighbouring rights experts work with collective management organisations worldwide. Neighbouring rights royalties are collected when recordings are played in public places including shops, bars, nightclubs and offices. They are also collected when recordings are copied for private use, or broadcast on TV, radio or online. Since 2006 PPL has collected nearly £700 million of international revenue. 

Peter Leathem, chief executive officer at PPL, said: ‘These results partly reflect the strength of UK music abroad. Our country produces some of the world’s most commercially and critically successful artists and it is a privilege to represent and defend their neighbouring rights.’

Founded in 1934, PPL is the UK music industry’s collective management organisation, ensuring revenue flows back to over 130,000 performers and record companies. PPL works with PRS for Music to complete public performance licensing.

You can find out more about PPL here.