PPL and PRS for music joint venture officially launches

Previously, businesses and organisations had to obtain separate music licences from PPL and PRS for Music. However, they have now come together to streamline their music licensing services and form PPL PRS Ltd and launch TheMusicLicence.

In February 2016 PPL and PRS for Music announced plans to create a joint venture in the form of a new operating company, which would be jointly and equally owned by PPL and PRS for Music and would focus on serving all of the UK public performance licensing customers.

Later that year, competition clearance from the Competition and Markets Authority was given and PPL and PRS for Music were able to sign a shareholders agreement that set out how the joint venture company would be owned and operated. The Board of the new company will comprise PPL PRS senior management team members as well as representatives from both PPL and PRS for Music.

The launch of PPL PRS has simplified public performance licensing by covering the permissions needed from both PPL and PRS for Music in one simple transaction and a single combined licence, known as TheMusicLicence .

Suzanne Smith, who was appointed in April 2017 to the position of Managing Director for PPL PRS Ltd, said,
"We are very excited to now offer customers of both PPL and PRS for Music a more streamlined approach for licensing their businesses to play and perform music. With the launch of TheMusicLicence we are providing one licence and one contact, enabling companies and organisations to enhance their customer andemployee experience by playing music in their premises."

The new company has begun licensing and the transition of PPL and PRS for Music's existing public performance customers to TheMusicLicence is taking place over the next 12 months.

If you currently have a music licence from PPL and/or PRS for Music, there is nothing you need to do. TheMusicLicence will be in touch with you when your current PPL and/or PRS for Musiclicence is due for review and guide you through the new process to obtain TheMusicLicence.

PPL PRS is now the first port of call for any queries from existing and prospective new public performance customers alike.

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