UK royalty payment dates

PRS pay royalties to our members through four main distributions each year: in April, July, October and December. MCPS pay royalties each month. For overseas royalties, these dates may differ. 

Usual timings from play to pay

The time it takes to pay royalties varies, depending on how and where the music is being used. First the use is reported then matched to the works in our copyright database. For example, if your work is played on TV in January, we might not know about this until April so the most likely payment date will be our July distribution.

The above distribution timetable forms the expected payment schedule for most royalties, however late reporting occasionally causes royalty payment to be delayed until the following distribution period. Members should not contact Member Services until after the second distribution has passed without payment.

Royalty payment dates for overseas societies

We receive money from overseas societies throughout the year, which we pay through our distributions. Some societies only distribute once or twice a year, so it can take a while for you to receive royalties after the play or performance date.

For money that we collect from managed territories, we distribute this twice a year, in July and December.