However, PPL will pay another person (such as an agent), provided PPL has received specific and valid authority to do this, or if it is required to do so by law.
Distributions
Each year there is one distribution (that currently takes place at the end of June). At this distribution, revenues collected the previous calendar year are paid out. So, for example, revenues collected between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2009 will be distributed on 30 June 2010.
Where interest has accrued on revenues allocated to a member, it is added to the payment of those revenues. Further, the relevant taxation (if any) is applied to payments to members in accordance with PPL’s legal obligations.
Thresholds
Payments will only be made if the monies accruing on an account (whether for UK revenues or otherwise) exceed the following thresholds (which vary according to the location of the recipient).
| Payment Method |
Payment Threshold |
| UK - Electronic |
£5 |
| Overseas - Electronic |
£50 |
First payments
If a record company joins PPL during a calendar year, the first payment they will receive (assuming they are eligible for payments and they do not acquire repertoire from an existing or former member which entitles them to payments) will be at the main distribution the following year (see above). This is because PPL only starts licensing the rights in that record company’s sound recordings from the date that it joins PPL.
If a performer becomes a member of PPL, the first payment that they will receive (assuming they are eligible for payments) will be at the next distribution or adjustment run (see above). By virtue of the nature of the right to equitable remuneration, a performer who has performed on a sound recording in PPL’s repertoire (and who qualifies for equitable remuneration for that sound recording) does not need to transfer any rights to PPL in order to be entitled to payment and so may be paid in respect of that sound recording for any previous distribution periods held open by PPL at the time of that distribution or adjustment run.
Deductions
PPL may deduct from any payments to a member any overpayments that have been made to that member. Overpayments might have occurred where a member supplied incorrect information and/or claims. Further examples include, for record company members, where a record company’s rights ownership position has changed, and, for performer members, where additional performers are added to the line-ups on sound recordings which reduces the share allocated to that performer member.
Suspension
PPL may suspend payments from a member’s account where there is a dispute, there is an investigation into matters relating to that member, or PPL is required to by law. Whilst payments are suspended any revenue allocated to a member’s account (including future allocations) will continue to earn interest.
Disputes
PPL recognises there are a variety of disputes that could arise in relation to the distribution of revenues collected by PPL. For example, record companies may dispute who controls the rights to a particular sound recording (and therefore who is entitled to PPL revenues in respect of that recording), a dispute may arise as to whether a person contributed a performance on a recording, or a member may have a dispute with PPL.
Where PPL becomes aware of a dispute, PPL will seek to contact the parties involved for further information, which may include a request for each party to set out their position in writing and provide supporting evidence. PPL will make a decision regarding the dispute if, in the circumstances, it feels able to and this decision will be communicated to the parties. In most cases this will be the conclusion of the matter.
In the rare instance where a dispute continues, for example where PPL is not able to make a decision and the parties cannot resolve the matter between themselves, then the parties may be able to take advantage of PPL’s Dispute Resolution Procedures
Charity Records
If a sound recording is recorded or released for a charitable purpose, then it will be treated in the same way as any other sound recording in PPL’s repertoire, in that monies that have accrued to the record company and performer members will be allocated and distributed to the relevant members. However, if a member wants monies that have accrued to it from a charity record to be paid to a particular charity, then it should notify PPL of this in writing in advance of a distribution or adjustment payment.