PRS for Music in multi-territory licensing initiative

High profile independent publishers choose PRS for Music

A number of significant UK independent publishers, have agreed to sign up to the PRS for Music led initiative to license the rights they represent collectively to online and mobile service providers on a multi-territory basis.

Bug Music/Windswept, Fairwood, Hornall Brothers Music, The International Music Network, Mute Song, Music Sales and Westbury are just a few of the indie publishers and more are expected to be announced over the coming weeks.

PRS for Music has been working closely with independent publishers on the initiative which will provide simpler aggregated multi-territory licensing solutions for mobile and online service providers.

Following the EC recommendation, Hornall Brothers, along with a number of UK independent publishers, have long had concerns about pan-European licensing. Consequently, we have decided to act collectively with other UK independent publishing companies and have agreed to appoint PRS for Music to license our pan-European rights. We hope that Brussels will support us in our efforts to facilitate their recommendation.

The initiative, which follows the EC cross border licensing recommendation of 2005, adds the rights of these publishers to those of peermusic and 800 other independent publishers, and establishes PRS for Music as the destination of choice for an online blanket licence of independent music rights.

PRS for Music continues to act on behalf of the collective and we are working hard to demonstrate the quality and value of our services to both rights holders and music users across the globe. We are delighted to have such an influential group of independent publishers representing a range of quality repertoire join our multi-territory initiative. This will significantly strengthen our offering to mobile and digital providers.

PRS for Music expects to start licensing new multi-territory online services later in the year, and existing multi-territory services as their licensing arrangements expire.