Improving accuracy of MCPS royalties

Following our latest Publisher Operational Group meeting and Distribution Committee approval, we are making changes to ensure the correct member is paid in our distributions.

What is changing?

From September, when calculating MCPS recorded media invoices we will identify the owner of the music at the time of usage, rather than at the time of invoicing. This is known as Pay Owner in Period.

Why are we making this change?

We are making this change as there can sometimes be a time lag between when the product was sold and when the record label who pressed it is invoiced. When publishing rights change, this can mean the new owner of the work is paid rather than the owner at the time of usage. A number of you have provided feedback regarding this issue and we are pleased to be making this announcement.

What does this mean for me?

Where ownership continues, you won’t need to take any action. Based on the copyright data we hold, we will identify who the owner was at the time the music was used rather than at the time we invoiced. This will ensure that if the ownership has changed between invoicing and usage, the member who owns the work at the time the music is used (and within the terms of the agreement/deal), irrespective of when the invoice is raised, is paid.

The new rule will be applied to all MCPS recorded media invoices raised from September.