PRS for Music statement on today's EU Copyright Directive vote

PRS for Music Chief Executive Robert Ashcroft calls today's result "a bold step forward"

Today, MEPs voted to pass Article 13 of the European Copyright Directive. The EU Copyright Directive will now go to trilogue with the European Union Council, Commission and Parliament to negotiate a final text for passage into law.

Robert Ashcroft, Chief Executive of PRS for Music, said: “The European Parliament today took a bold step forward to ensure a functioning and sustainable digital single market for creative content. PRS for Music has fought from the beginning for digital services to pay all creators fairly for the content they use. Today’s vote was a ringing endorsement of our work and that of our colleagues in the industry over the last five years.

“We began this process in 2014 with the paper ‘Is copyright law fit for purpose in the internet era’ and it has taken a huge amount of effort and work to get to the positive outcome reached today. I’d like to thank everyone who has supported us throughout this process and stood with us in our fight for the rights of creators.”

About PRS for Music

Here for music since 1914, PRS for Music is a world-leading music collective management organisation representing the rights of more than 175,000 talented songwriters, composers and music publishers. Redefining the global standard for music royalties, PRS for Music ensures songwriters and composers are paid whenever their musical compositions and songs are streamed, downloaded, broadcast, performed and played in public. 

For more than 110 years it has grown and protected the rights of the music creator community, paying out royalties with more accuracy, transparency and speed. In 2023, PRS for Music paid out £943.6m in royalties and collected a record £1.08 billion in revenues. prsformusic.com