Cinemas tariff consultation
Updated 30 August 2023: As a result of feedback received we have updated the consultation to remove references to public performance of production music sound recordings (PMSR). To ensure you are responding to the most recent proposed changes please use the updated documents and feedback form below.
We're reaching out to get input on Tariff C, a proposed new licensing tariff for music use in cinemas. This tariff includes music in feature films, trailers, cinema idents, commercial advertising and foyer background music.
Your view is important to help us consult with the industry and find the right approach for the licensing of music in this sector.
We are seeking your views on the following:
- Our royalty rates for the public performance of music during the showing of films, pre-film content and the use of background music in foyers.
- Our royalty rates for cinematic presentations of live music events - such as concerts which are live streamed into cinemas or pre-recorded.
- Our proposed charging metric for films, pre-film content and cinematic presentations of live music events.
- The option for you to declare your music usage and pay for your licence on a 6-month basis as well as annually.
- The removal of the prompt payment discount.
- The retention of the low admissions discount for small and/or independent venues.
The consultation will run until 20 September 2023. We will review all responses received before or on the closing date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tariff C will apply to the public performance of PRS for Music repertoire, at the following venues that show feature films, film trailers, idents, commercial adverts, and background music within the foyer:
- cinemas, art centres or other fixed premises at which the commercial exhibition of films regularly takes place on not fewer than three days weekly for a period of not less than four months during the year
- drive-ins, and temporary ‘pop up’ cinemas currently charged under our General Purposes tariff “Tariff GP.”
- Films metric: The new Tariff C has been simplified and now only applies a single Pence Per Admission (PPA) metric to charge for the use of music in feature films. We propose to remove the 1% of net box office receipts metric from the new tariff.
- Cinematic presentations of live music events e.g., concerts: Licence fees will be calculated using a PPA metric as opposed to 3% of net box office receipts.
- Booking Fees: Tariff C will factor booking fees where the fee is included within the purchase price of the ticket.
- 4% Prompt Payment Discount (PPD): This will be phased out over the next two years; ending in January 2026.
- Annual Review: Full or half yearly usage reviews will be available to exhibitors.
- Carers Complimentary Tickets: We will no longer charge a royalty for admissions from the UK Cinema Association (UKCA) CEA Card scheme where the carer(s) who accompanies a paying adult or child receives complementary entry. The CEA Card enables a disabled cinema guest to receive a complimentary ticket for someone to go with them when they visit a participating cinema.
Pence per admission (PPA) was introduced in the 2005 settlement agreement by the CEA (now UK Cinema Association). We accepted the principle to allow two metrics and the option to apply either as it was expected to deliver an equivalent value (namely 1% of net UK box office receipts), however in practice, this has allowed the application of box office actual receipts and PPA rate to be blended at a customer level, leading to an effective rate less than 1%.
We have opted to move forward with a PPA rate as the simpler of the two metrics to administer. By way of example, if an exhibitor provides complimentary tickets and has chosen to be assessed under Actual Receipts, the exhibitor is required to declare the amount which would have been paid had normal prices been charged for that admission. Also, in the advent of dynamic pricing, a consistent PPA rate will allow for increased royalty pricing transparency and accuracy as well as allowing for simpler pricing flexibility as the industry develops.
Actual admissions for the purpose of the new Tariff C means all admissions (per person) to the cinema screen(s) of the exhibitor during the licence year. This also includes admissions via complimentary tickets, employee passes and subscription cards or similar.
Admissions from the UKCA CEA Card are to be excluded from actual admissions.
Contact us
If you have any queries regarding our consultation, please contact us on cinema.consultation@prsformusic.com