PPL and PRS for Music launch Music Recognition Technology pilot

Pilot includes iconic nightclubs Ministry of Sound and Fabric and major club chain The Deltic Group

PPL and PRS for Music have launched a pilot designed to evaluate the use of Music Recognition Technology (MRT) in identifying music publicly performed by DJs in clubs, bars, pubs and hotels licensed by PPL and PRS.

It is hoped that the pilot, carried out by MRT provider DJ Monitor, will result in the accurate identification of music performance information, which when collected from a wide variety of licensed premises can be incorporated into a ‘best practice’ policy for distributing royalties to PPL and PRS members. 

Participating venues will monitor music played by DJs using an MRT device and send the data to a secure database to be matched, analysed and reported back to PPL and PRS for Music.

The pilot, which started in late 2016, has since been rolled out to venues across the UK including iconic nightclubs such as Ministry of Sound and Fabric and major club chain, The Deltic Group. It will run throughout 2017 with potential to be extended further. 

Music is the very heartbeat of our business and it’s in our interest to see that talented artists are rewarded for their creations.  With online streaming and other digital technology, it’s increasingly difficult for songwriters and musicians to make a living from their creations, so anything we can do to help and attract and support the latest local talent has to be a good thing.

We are pleased with the progress being made with the MRT pilot, and working with established brands and premises on British high streets will give us greater insight into the music being played in bars and clubs around the country. The readiness of all participating venues to install the recognition devices is a positive move for the recording rightsholders and performers whose music is being played.

If clubs adopt this technology, DJ sets can be monetised more efficiently, music creators will get paid more accurately and in turn can continue to make the music that fills our clubs and festivals. We all rely on each other, so it’s necessary that club owners, songwriters, artists and rightsholders understand and adapt to the changing climate and work together to keep all areas of the music industry alive.

We are delighted to have the support of venues across the UK participating in this pilot. We look forward to working with the clubs to gain insight into how technology could help ensure the right people are paid for the music that keeps clubbers coming in.

ENDS

Notes to Editors 

For media enquiries and further information, please contact Stefania Pavlou, Comms and Media Relations Manager, PRS for Music: stefania.pavlou@prsformusic.com / +44 (0)20 3741 477

About PPL

Founded in 1934, PPL is the UK music industry’s collective management organisation (CMO) for tens of thousands of performers and record companies.  We license recorded music in the UK when it is played in public (shops, bars, nightclubs, offices etc.) or broadcast (BBC, commercial radio, commercial TV etc.) and ensure that revenue flows back to our members.  These include both independent and major record companies, together with performers ranging from emerging grassroots artists through to established session musicians and influential festival headliners.

PPL has a market-leading international collections business, with 84 agreements in place across 40 countries, helping members to maximise their revenue when their repertoire is played overseas.  We collected £212.1 million in the UK and internationally in 2016 and paid over 92,000 performers and record companies.

About PRS for Music

PRS for Music is a world-leading music collective management organisation representing the rights of more than 165,000 talented songwriters, composers and music publishers around the globe. Headquartered in the UK, it works diligently on behalf of its members to grow and protect the value of their rights. With a focus on innovation and integrity, PRS for Music is redefining the global standard for music royalties to ensure creators are paid whenever their musical compositions and songs are streamed, downloaded, broadcast, performed and played in public. In 2022, PRS for Music collected £964m and paid out £836.2m in royalties. prsformusic.com