Categories of membership

Not sure whether you should join PRS, MCPS or both? Use the table below to help you decide.

Writers (songwriters and composers)	Music Publishers
A writer is the creator of an original song or piece of music. This includes writing lyrics and musical notation.	A music publisher is a company or individual who enters into an agreement with a writer to exploit the writer’s musical works to the benefit of both parties.
Join PRS as a writer to earn royalties if your music is currently being: broadcast on radio/TV used online performed live in concert otherwise played in public	Join PRS as a publisher to collect royalties if the music in your catalogue is currently being: broadcast on radio/TV used online performed live in concert otherwise played in public
Published writers should not need to join MCPS if their publisher is already an MCPS member. The publisher will collect royalties from the MCPS on behalf of the writer and pass them on. Please refer to your publisher.	Join MCPS as a publisher to collect royalties if the music in your catalogue has been: commercially released by a record company (other than a record company you own) recorded into a radio or TV programme recorded in an audio-visual or multimedia production used online
Join both MCPS (PDF form) and PRS (online form) as a writer if both of the above apply.	Join both MCPS and PRS (one online form) as a publisher if both of the above apply.