I have a question about registering/amending songs and agreement numbers, searching cue sheets, raising a service request, or changing my personal details
Please visit our Online Services Help Centre page for help in these areas.
View the Online Service Help Centre page
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I have a question about my royalties, money, or my statement
Please visit our Money Help Centre page for help in these areas.
View the Money Help Centre page
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What is my CAE number?
Your CAE is your membership number. Every member is allocated a unique 9-digit CAE (Compositeur, Auteurs et Editeurs) number that you will find on any correspondence to you, statements etc. Please contact our Members Services department if you still require your number.
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Should I notify you of broadcasts?
No, normally under the terms of our agreements with broadcasters, they must supply us with complete returns of all music they broadcast. However, if you haven’t received royalties you were expecting in the appropriate distribution, the more information you can supply PRS for Music the better.
PRS for Music royalties are paid quarterly (July, October, December and April), so if a broadcast/performance falls in the months of Jan – March and we have received notification, these should be paid in the next distribution (in this example, July).
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Do I need to join overseas societies?
We have reciprocal agreements with the vast majority of our sister societies throughout the World who collect, distribute and account to us for broadcasts and performances of our members repertoire in their territory. You are therefore effectively already covered by your membership for the world.
For collection of mechanical royalties in a specific overseas territory, the most efficient way for you to do this is by looking at joining an overseas collection society. If this is not an appropriate option you may wish to find a sub-publisher that is willing to represent you. If neither of these options are right for you, MCPS can collect your overseas royalties on your behalf.
Please note, MCPS only licenses in the UK.
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How do I release a cover version?
You will need an MCPS licence in order to release a cover version of a song. Please visit here to see the licences available to you.
To find out about gaining permission from the writers and publishers of the existing track, please visit the Writer member Help page.
View the MCPS licences for retail products
Go to the Writer member Help page
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My membership application has been accepted, but from which date is it effective?
PRS for Music: This is normally the 1st January or 1st July immediately preceding the date your completed application form is received at our offices.
MCPS: Membership commences when you receive notification from us that your application has been accepted.
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How do I get legal advice?
Members frequently ask us for advice when it comes to legal matters. As we cannot provide this type of advice, we've compiled a list of qualified music business solicitors who have agreed to help you in our Legal Referral Service.
See the list of solicitors in the PRS for Music Legal Referral Service
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Why do I only get 50% royalties with PRS for Music when I get 100% with MCPS?
If the writer you represent is a member of PRS for Music it means they have assigned their performing right to PRS for Music. As such, 50% of their performing income always goes straight to the writer.
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How do I make sure I get paid for my works that appear in a UK film or television production?
First of all, register the works that you expect to be paid money from. You can do this on our website if you have signed up for an online account. If you believe you have already registered the works, it would be worth checking to make sure before you move on to the next step.
In order to get paid for your works, they have to be listed in the productions cue sheet. Please visit the Online Services Help page to find out how to search cue sheets. If your works are not listed in the production's cue sheet, or the distribution period for the work has passed, please contact us so we can follow this up.
Register/check your works online
Sign up for an online account
View the Online Services Help page
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