MCPS broadcasting royalties
The BR1 Agreement is aimed at the BBC for use of music in programming, trailers, jingles and production music sound recordings on its stations.
How often should you expect to be paid?
3-8 months after transmission.
Do we pay you for each track used?
Yes.
What do we charge a customer for the use of your music?
An annual lump sum.
What commission rate do you pay us on the royalties collected?
12.5%
What does the scheme exclude?
The use of music for retail video or cinema release. Commercial music for use in most types of sponsorship messages.
The BR2 Agreement is aimed at Commercial Radio Companies Association (CRCA) who use music in programming, trailers, jingles and production music sound recordings on its stations.
How often should you expect to be paid?
3-8 months after transmission.
Do we pay your for each track used?
No.
What do we charge a customer for the use of your music?
An annual lump sum.
What commission rate do you pay us on the royalties collected?
12.5%
What does the scheme exclude?
The use of music for retail video or cinema release. Commercial music for use in most types of sponsorship messages.
The BR3 Agreement is a MCPS only Blanket Agreement with commercial radio stations, for the use of Production Music in their radio advertisements.
How often should you expect to be paid?
3-8 months after transmission.
Do we pay you for each track used?
Yes.
What do we charge a customer for the use of your music?
An annual lump sum based on the 'RAJAR' Listening Hours.
What commission rate do you pay us on the royalties collected?
12.5%
What does the scheme cover?
The use of production music, i.e. music which has been specifically created for TV/Radio/Advertising use.
What does the scheme exclude?
The use of commercial music (covered under the 'SG1 scheme')
Special Considerations
Independent radio stations may share commercials but will be required to pay an additional fee of 20% over their base fee.
The BR4 Agreement is aimed at independent radio stations outside 'CRCA'.
How often should you expect to be paid?
3-8 months after transmission.
Do we pay you for each track used?
No.
What do we charge a customer for the use of your music?
An annual lump sum based on the station's Total Survey Area.
What commission rate do you pay us on the royalties collected?
12.5%
What does the scheme exclude?
The use of music for retail video or cinema release. Commercial music for use in most types of sponsorship messages.
The BR5 Agreement is aimed at independent radio producers who make radio programmes using music to supply to radio stations worldwide.
How often should you expect to be paid?
3-8 months after transmission.
Do we pay you for each track used?
No.
What do we charge a customer for the use of your music?
10% of the gross revenue generated via sales.
What commission rate do you pay us on the royalties collected?
12.5%
What does the scheme exclude?
Music cannot be used for advertisements. Commercial music for use in most types of sponsorship messages.
How we collect money for your music used by independent production companies.
What is the name of the scheme?
The Independent Production Company (IPC) blanket licence.
Who is it aimed at?
The IPC scheme provides a simple and cost effective way for producers of TV programmes to access your music, without requiring individual approval from the copyright owner.
What are the key benefits?
- More money for you - ease of use and competitive rates will lead to more production companies using your music
- More efficient – no need for you to negotiate directly with production companies, giving you more time to market your works
- Less cost - removes administration and debt chasing costs
What does the IPC scheme cover?
- Production music (music that is specifically written for inclusion in audio and TV productions)
- Commercial music (all other music)
What does the scheme exclude?
The IPC scheme does not cover the following usages:
- International use (it is for UK programming made by UK IPC's only)
- Adaptation, alternation, sampling or arrangement of a member's commercial music without prior approval
- Reproductions of music as parodies
- Use of music in deliberately derogatory, obscene or demeaning way to its composer, author or the performing artist
- Advertising or sponsorship
- Use of commercial music in title/credit sequences
- Certain songs aren’t covered by the IPC licence and need to be cleared directly with the publishers. Currently, the IPC Excluded Works List contains songs that are written or co-written by AC/DC, The Beatles (including some solo works by Paul McCartney & George Harrison), Arthur Brown, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Metallica, Procol Harum, The Band, The Travelling Wilburys, Queen, Nirvana and Arctic Monkeys. The list also includes works by other artists which use samples of excluded works.
Anything excluded from the IPC Blanket Licence must be individually licensed.
Distribution of a UK TV programme that already contains our members' music is covered by the MCPS Programme Sales blanket licence.
What should you do if a TV company wants to use your music?
Simply refer them to the IPC licensing team on +44 (0)20 3741 4101 and we'll make sure you get the royalties you are due.
Full IPC scheme information for licensees is available at .
Which production companies are using the IPC scheme?
Production companies such as Optomen Television Limited, October Films, Objective Productions, Endemol, Princess Productions, Company Productions, Fresh One Productions, Monkey Kingdom and North One plus many smaller individual companies.
We are now working alongside Channel 4, Five and S4C to make reporting even simpler for licensees.
How much do you get paid?
How much you will get paid will vary according to the channel. See the rate card below.
How often should you expect to be paid?
- Monthly distribution breakdown 2012
- Monthly distribution breakdown 2011
- Monthly distribution breakdown 2010
- Monthly distribution breakdown 2009
- Monthly distribution breakdown 2008
What do we charge a customer for the use of your music?
See full details of the terms, rates and conditions of the IPC blanket licence.
What commission rate do you have to pay us on the royalties collected?
We currently charge 12.5% of any money collected to cover the cost of processing your royalties.
Special considerations.
This scheme works in conjunction with the existing Programme Sales Blanket Framework.
Further information
