MCPS and PRS sign service agreement extension

UK collection societies, Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society Limited (MCPS) and Performing Right Society (PRS), have today announced a new service agreement until the end of 2025, reaffirming their long-standing partnership.

The new deal will see PRS for Music continue to provide its market-leading rights management services to MCPS and its members. It also allows MCPS and PRS to continue their joint licensing of mechanical and performing rights, simplifying the process of obtaining rights for thousands of customers, while providing significant administrative cost savings for rightsholders. The agreement reaffirms a shared commitment to a comprehensive licensing and growth strategy, alongside the common aims of maximising the value of the rights represented.

Established in 1924, just 10 years after the formation of PRS, and owned by the Music Publishers Association (MPA), MCPS joined an operational alliance with the Performing Right Society Limited in 1997, known as the MCPS-PRS Alliance. The two organisations announced the restructuring of the partnership in 2013, with MCPS moving to its current status as a customer of PRS for Music. In 2017, following an extensive Request for Proposal (RfP) process and new agreement, PRS for Music was awarded the right to deliver end-to-end services to MCPS. Today’s agreement signifies another new chapter, and further positive evolution and collaboration between the two entities, on behalf of their members.

Our partnership with MCPS dates back almost 25 years. In that time, the music landscape has changed vastly and continues to do so. We are pleased to have renewed our agreement and collaboration with MCPS for the licensing and distribution of mechanical royalties, an agreement that greatly benefits our shared customers and members in this tech and data-driven world. We are looking forward to continuing our vital work with MCPS, as we strive to optimise our partnerships and joint ventures to maximise member income.

 

We are delighted to confirm a new deal with our established partners, PRS for Music. Together, we continue to be committed to ensuring the best possible outcomes for our publisher, songwriter and composer members, while maintaining our shared value of customer-centricity.

 

About PRS for Music

Here for music since 1914, PRS for Music is a world-leading music collective management organisation representing the rights of more than 175,000 talented songwriters, composers and music publishers. Redefining the global standard for music royalties, PRS for Music ensures songwriters and composers are paid whenever their musical compositions and songs are streamed, downloaded, broadcast, performed and played in public. 

For 110 years it has grown and protected the rights of the music creator community, paying out royalties with more accuracy, transparency and speed. In 2023, PRS for Music paid out £943.6m in royalties and collected a record £1.08 billion in revenues. prsformusic.com

About MCPS 

The Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society (MCPS) collects royalties for songwriter, composer and music publisher members, when their music is reproduced, in any format – including online, physical and synchronised.

MCPS collects and pay royalties to members when their music is:

• copied and used as physical products (such as CDs and DVDs)
• streamed or downloaded on services such as Spotify, Apple Music, Netflix and Amazon
• synchronised into audio-visual entertainment including TV, film, video games and advertising
• on radio

The MPA Group owns and operates MCPS on behalf of over 30,000 music publisher, songwriter and composer members.

About the MPA Group

The Music Publishers Association (MPA) represents the full diversity of the UK’s music publishing sector.

We act on behalf of over 200 businesses that invest in, license works by and support the livelihoods of songwriters, composers and lyricists – ranging from the UK’s largest and most established music publishers to independents and start-ups across all genres. These companies are the engine room of British music, they support our music makers and drive an extraordinary cultural.