Connecting the Dots: Exploring Collection Societies in the UK Music Industry

• Music Business
• Special Education

Connecting the Dots: Exploring Collection Societies in the UK Music Industry

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to:

Identify the three different collection societies in the UK and understand their relationship with

• Artists
• Managers
• Record labels
• Publishers
• Songwriters

Introduce the learning objective and explain what students will be able to achieve by the end of the lesson.

What are some different ways that musicians can make money from their music?

What are "Royalties"?

PRS (Performing Rights Society)

PRS is the UK’s collection society for collecting and distributing royalties on behalf of Composers/Songwriters and Publishers.

They pay royalties to their members when their works are:

• Broadcast on TV or radio
• Performed or played in public, whether live or through a recording
• Streamed or downloaded

Explain the role of PRS in representing songwriters and composers, and highlight its significance in ensuring fair compensation for their musical works.

MCPS (Mechanical Copyright Protection Society)

MCPS also collects and distributes royalties on behalf of Composers/Songwriters and Publishers.

They pay royalties to their members when their music is:

• Copied as physical products, such as CDs and DVDs
• Streamed or downloaded
• Used in TV, film or radio  

Discuss the role of MCPS in representing publishers and songwriters, emphasizing its importance in protecting their mechanical copyrights.

PPL (Phonographic Performance Limited)

PPL collects and distributes money on behalf of Performers and Record Companies for the use of their recorded music.

They pay royalties to their members when their music is: 

• Broadcast online, on TV or on the radio
• Played in a public place (e.g a shop or restaurant)
• Copied in order to create a commercial product to be used for public performance (e.g a jukebox)

Introduce PPL as the collection society representing record labels and performers, highlighting its role in ensuring fair compensation for their recorded performances.

Interactive Activity

Small group activity: Scenarios to identify the relevant collection society for royalty collection.

Divide students into small groups and provide each group with different scenarios. Instruct them to identify the collection society that would be involved in the collection of royalties for each scenario. Afterwards, have each group present their findings to the rest of the class for discussion.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.