I have a question about registering/amending songs, 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 do not know/ have forgotten your number.
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How do I submit a set list?
You must complete a Live Events Form. Use this form to give us details of single or multiple events (a tour) for a single artist or group. This can also be used for tour 'support acts' and for festival performances.
For smaller shows, the PRS for Music Gigs and Clubs Scheme ensures that members receive royalties when their music is performed in UK pubs and clubs.
View the Live Event Form
Find out how to submit set lists under the PRS for Music Gigs and Clubs Scheme
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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, we will process your payment in time for the folling distribution (in this example, July).
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Does registering my works with PRS for Music mean my copyright is protected?
Currently, no official form of copyright registration is available. In the UK, all original music is protected by copyright from the time it is recorded/written down in some format. Registering your works with PRS for Music enables you to be correctly paid for the broadcast or performance of your songs.
Read our overview of copyright
View a more detailed guide on copyright law
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Do I need permission to release a cover version?
If you have not altered any of the arrangement, melody or lyrics, you do not need permission to use the work as the royalties will be distributed to the copyright holder. If you are to alter anything please contact the publisher of the works.
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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 royalities on your behalf.
Please note, MCPS only licenses in the UK.
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How should I split royalties with my co-writers?
If you are a writer, it is completely up to you on how you split the shares between the interested parties. If you are published, you will have to agree the splits with your publisher prior to registering the work.
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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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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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I want to rearrange a work, what do I need to do?
If you are to change any part of the arrangement or are unsure as to how to proceed, view our arrangements policy.
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I am a manager of a member and wish to be involved with their
PRS for Music account
In order for a PRS for Music member to give authority to others to act on their behalf they will need to fill in a 3rd Party Mandate Form. This form needs to be printed out, filled in and signed, then sent to the address at the bottom. When filling the form in, members can choose what kind of access the third party has (such as changing personal details and access to online services).
Please note, without a completed mandate form returned to us we are unable to give out details of a member's account to third parties.
View the 3rd Party Mandate Form
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I have just joined, what shall I do now?
One of the first things you should do is set up an online account, this enables you to manage your membership online. To do this follow this link.
You should then register your songs that you believe will earn you royalties. To find out how to do this, as well as how to use the other online services that are available to you, visit the Online Services Help page.
Another thing you may want to do when you join is sign up to the Gigs & Clubs Scheme. This means you can earn money from the gigs that you play.
Sign up for an online account
View the Online Services Help page
Find out more information on the Gigs & Clubs Scheme
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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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What should I do if another person claims they have written one of my songs?
If you believe another PRS for Music member is claiming ownership for one of your songs, this is called a Duplicate Claim. For details on the Duplicate Claims and Disputes process, please visit the following links:
About Duplicate Claims and Disputes
Duplicate Claims FAQ
Rules governing Disputes and Duplicate Claims
You can use our ‘Manage Duplicate Claims’ online service to keep track of your registered songs and any Duplicate Claims that might arise. This is only available to members who have signed up for online services.
Manage Duplicate Claims online service
Sign up for online services
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