PPL

PPL is the UK-based music licensing company which licenses recorded music for broadcast, online and public performance use. Established in 1934, PPL carries out this role on behalf of thousands of record company and performer members.    In 2010, PPL collected revenue of £143.5m

PPL’s Broadcast and online licensing covers the use of recorded music on the BBC’s television, radio and iPlayer services and by hundreds of commercial broadcasters. These include ITV, Channel 4, Five and Sky, together with services such as Virgin Media and BT Vision.  PPL also licenses commercial radio networks such as Capital, Heart and Absolute Radio, online services such as Last FM and community, hospital, student and prison radio stations. 

Public Performance licences are issued by PPL to hundreds of thousands of businesses and organisations from all sectors across the UK who play recorded music to their staff or customers and who therefore require a licence by law. These can range from bars, nightclubs, shops and hotels to offices, factories, gyms, schools, universities and local authorities. PPL also licenses music service providers to copy recorded music for services such as in-store music systems, jukeboxes, fitness compilations and in-flight entertainment systems.

PPL also operates an International service, used by many of its members. Through agreements with over 50 music licensing companies globally, PPL is able to collect licensing revenue from the use of its members’ recorded music around the world.  Under these agreements with other music licensing companies, PPL also acts on behalf of its members to license their recordings and pay for their performances in the UK. The international collections market is very competitive, with numerous commercial companies offering similar services, but despite this PPL’s International service continues to grow significantly.

After the deduction of PPL’s running costs, all revenue collected is distributed to members based on the music used by licensees and the extensive information contained in the PPL Repertoire Database. PPL does not retain a profit for its services.

With over 6,500 members who are record companies or other recorded music rights holders and 50,000 performer members, PPL has a large and diverse membership. Members include major record labels and globally successful performers, as well as many independent labels, sole traders and session musicians ranging from orchestral players to percussionists and singers – all of whom are entitled to be fairly paid for the use of their recordings and performances.

PPL’s role and remit increases year on year. The company receives details electronically on a weekly basis for an average of 6,500 new recordings. Once this data has been fed into PPL’s databases, it is then passed on to PRS for Music for it to administer the relevant copying rights on behalf of the songwriters, composers and publishers. PPL also provides that data to the BPI and IFPI (International Federation of Phonographic Industry) to assist with their anti-piracy activities.

PPL licenses recorded music played in public or broadcast on the radio or TV and then distributes the fees to its tens of thousands of performer and record company members. PPL does not retain a profit for its services and its members range from session musicians and emerging artists to major record labels and globally successful performers. If you’ve ever performed on own the rights to recorded music, PPL could be collecting royalties from the UK and internationally on your behalf.

For further information please visit ppluk.com.