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CPA welcomes PRS decision on the live royalty
By CMU Editorial | Published on Wednesday 7 December 2011
The Concert Promoters Association, the trade body for British gig promoters, has welcomed the recent announcement by PRS For Music that it will keep the royalties it charges the live sector at the current rate of 3% of ticket receipts.
As previously reported, PRS, representing music publishers and songwriters, announced it was reviewing the royalties paid by promoters to the collecting society last year. Many expected the society to subsequently propose increasing the royalty charged to mainstream gig, tour and festival promoters, possibly offering concessions to the grass roots sector in return. But after a lengthy consultation, PRS announced last month that it would keep the live royalty as is.
CPA Chairman Stuart Littlewood issued a statement supporting that move yesterday, telling reporters: “We are extremely pleased that the consultation has been persuasive in assisting PRS For Music in deciding to abandon an increase. The potential ramifications of the proposed increase – for both live music fans and people within the industry – were massive”.
He continued: “Any increased tax on musical performances would have been directly passed onto music fans up and down the country. If live music is to survive, we need to ensure that we are keeping ticket prices at an affordable level, not least given the current harsh economic climate”.
