A central tenet of PRS is that it is owned and governed by its members. With over 190,000 songwriters, composers and publishers comprising the membership collective, it is imperative that the elected PRS Members’ Council acts on behalf of the interests of all PRS members when it comes to overseeing the organisation’s strategy, governance and decision-making.
This year’s Members’ Council ballot provides PRS’s eligible writer members with the chance to vote for the writer candidates they want to represent them. The 2026 ballot, which is open until 5pm on 14 April, features seven candidates running for three writer places. The results of the ballot will be published on the PRS website on 21 April, before a formal announcement takes place at the PRS AGM on 11 May.
To underline the importance of voting in this year’s ballot, M sat down with PRS Members’ Council President Crispin Hunt and songwriter and writer member Eve Horne to outline three key reasons why every vote cast in the ballot is important for PRS members.
The Members’ Council directly shapes PRS’s strategy
‘PRS is one of the only places in the music industry where music creators control the purse strings,’ Crispin explains. ‘Through the Members’ Council, we oversee how our work is licensed and royalties are distributed.’ The Council, he adds, always argues for livelihoods over short-term profit — and because it includes elected writers and publishers, they have the necessary legitimacy to act in the best interests of the membership collective.
As a songwriter, Eve is understandably invested in the work and purpose of the Members’ Council. Eligible members, she adds, must therefore remain engaged and ready when called upon to help shape the make-up of the Council: ‘The Members’ Council ballot is one of the most direct ways we can shape the future of PRS. If we don’t use our voice, we’re giving up our chance to influence decisions that affect all of us as writers.’
Asked to cite an example of how the Members’ Council guides decision-making at PRS, Crispin points to the role it played in approving monthly royalty payouts for online streaming last year.
‘PRS has kept me alive financially by paying my royalties,’ he says. ‘Now, with monthly streaming payments, it’s like having a regular pay cheque.
‘PRS is transparent and world-leading, and that’s something to be proud of. We’re always trying to improve — if members don’t like something, they should get involved and change it. It’s not us and them — it’s just us. You can make the world of songwriting a better place by being part of the democratic process and voting in the ballot.’
Every vote cast strengthens the legitimacy of the Members’ Council
2024 saw the expansion of the Members’ Council to include 10 writers and 10 publishers, increasing the influx of ideas, expertise and breadth of lived experience in music. This balance of writers and publishers is crucial, combining on-the-ground creative experience with business know-how.
For Eve, the balanced composition of the Council can only improve further when eligible members exercise their right to vote: ‘At the end of the day, this organisation belongs to its members. It only works properly if we all step up and take part.’
When considering those standing for election to the Council, Eve says she looks out for candidates who are genuinely invested in the PRS community and care about all songwriters’ careers, not just their own.
‘I want to see honesty, accountability and a real willingness to stand up for others,’ she explains. ‘It matters to me that they understand the challenges writers face today and that they’re committed to representing all of us, and not just a select few.’
How should eligible members approach the task of selecting their preferred candidate? For Eve, research is key — after all, it’s important to be influenced by an informed knowledge of who they are and what they stand for. Crispin agrees, pointing to the various supporting documents that candidates can submit.
‘Music wins when we push the value of music as a whole,’ he adds.
Accountability is vital
The accountability of the Members’ Council to the wider membership collective is central to its purpose of protecting and maximising the value of its members’ works. For Crispin, this principle is essential for PRS to uphold, particularly when the Council is comprised of passionate individuals who are committed to protecting the value of copyright.
‘Unlike large corporations where shareholders vote, we aren’t shareholders — we’re rightsholders, and we have the right to earn a living from our creativity,’ he affirms. ‘Protecting those rights should be our top priority, and voting is one of the best ways we can do this’.
What motivates our two interviewees to vote every year in the PRS Members’ Council Ballot? ‘I vote because I care about where this organisation is going,’ replies Eve. ‘Voting is one of the few ways I can proactively shape PRS and its members’ future. PRS must reflect the voices and experiences of all its members — and voting is how that happens.’
‘I vote because it directly influences my livelihood,’ Crispin adds. ‘There’s nowhere else in my career where I have that kind of power.’
Learn more about who’s standing in this year’s Members’ Council ballot and how to vote.
