PPL Eligible Studio Producer Form

PPL’s Eligible Studio Producer Form is an optional tool designed to help studio producers to claim performer revenue from PPL.

When a track is recorded in a studio there can be many contributors to the final recording – and this will sometimes also include the studio producer. Where a studio producer does not give an audible contribution (such as vocals or instrumentals) they may still be eligible to receive royalties from PPL if they conduct (or provide a similar musical direction) to another performer's live performance as it is being recorded.

As not all studio producers on a track will provide this kind of contribution, PPL typically asks for written confirmation from the featured performers on a track that they agree with a studio producer's claim.

In the past supplying this confirmation to PPL has not been administratively easy for studio producers. However, PPL's new Eligible Studio Producer Form offers a simple, practical solution for studio producers to claim royalties. The form must be completed by both parties and submitted to PPL for a claim to be made.

What do I do as a studio producer?

How do I use this form?
- PPL recommends that, if appropriate, you seek the signatures of the relevant featured performers once the studio session has commenced and the featured performer(s) can be clear that you have provided the relevant type of contribution. You should advise them to discuss the implications of signing this form with their manager (if they have one) or alternatively to seek independent legal advice prior to signature.
  
  Once complete, please submit the form to PPL as an email attachment to performer@ppluk.com. Alternatively you can submit this form by post to PPL Member Services, 1 Upper James Street, London W1F 9DE. PPL recognises that, ultimately, it would be preferable to enable the secure electronic delivery of this information, but the paper form is an interim measure before such a system is put in place.
  
  If there are more than five featured performers on a recording from whom you wish to seek confirmation then you can simply use a second form for the remaining featured performers to sign. If you have not secured the signatures of all the featured performers on a recording then please use the form to identify those featured performers from whom confirmation is outstanding. Please indicate where multiple forms are being used in this way. Where there are several featured performers on a recording, it is sufficient for only one of these performers to provide confirmation that you conducted (or gave a similar musical direction) to their live performance as it was being recorded.
What should I do if I have made both audible and inaudible contributions on a recording?
- You should just make a performer claim for your audible contribution (using the relevant role code in the usual way) rather than an Eligible Studio Producer. Studio producers do not currently qualify for equitable remuneration for their inaudible contribution in every territory. Therefore, if you have provided both audible (such as guitar or vocals) and inaudible contributions to a sound recording you should just make a performer claim for your audible contribution. This enables PPL to claim monies for you overseas (subject to PPL receiving an international mandate) in territories where an “Eligible Studio Producer” is not entitled to equitable remuneration.

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What do I do as a performer?

What am I agreeing to when I sign this form?
- By signing this form, you are confirming that the Studio Producer conducted or gave a similar musical direction to your live performance on each relevant recording listed on the form as it was being recorded. An example of such a contribution would be the studio producer coordinating musicians and directing their tempo and style of play as they perform and while the recording is being made. An example of a contribution that would not satisfy PPL's Eligible Studio Producer criteria would be the studio producer merely encouraging the performers whilst they performed or delivering instruction or direction before or after the recording takes place.
Who is responsible for submitting this form to PPL?
- If a studio producer wishes to rely upon this optional form in making a claim to be an "Eligible Studio Producer", it is their responsibility to present it to the relevant featured performer(s) on a recording and submit the for to PPL once it has been signed. Where PPL receives confirmation that featured performers on a recording agree with a studio producer's claim, it will add the studio producer to the recording line-up as an Eligible Studio Producer.
How will the addition of an Eligible Studio Producer to the recording line-up affect me?
- Where PPL adds an Eligible Studio Producer to a recording line-up, the Eligible Studio Producer will be allocated a Non-Featured Performer's share of the performer track allocation. This may affect the amount of revenue you receive as a Featured Performer. You can read guidance regarding allocation of revenue to sound recordings in PPL's Performer Allocation Policy.
What should I do if I do not agree that the Studio Producer qualifies as an Eligible Studio Producer?
- If you do not agree that the Studio Producer should be added to the relevant recording as an Eligible Studio Producer (i.e. you consider that the Studio Producer did not conduct or provide a similar musical direction to any of the live performances on a recording as it was being recorded) you should not sign PPL's Eligible Studio Producer Form. Alternatively, if you have signed the form but are subsequently unclear as to what you've agreed to, please contact PPL on 020 7534 1234 or via email at performer@ppluk.com to confirm your position in relation to the Studio Producer's claim.
  
  In cases where any of the featured performers on a recording do not agree with a studio producer's claim, PPL's predispute resolution committee shall initially consider the matter and seek statements from both parties before making a decision regarding eligibility. If this informal process does not resolve the matter, then PPL suggests that the parties use PPL's more formal dispute resolution procedure, further details of which can be found on PPL's website (www.ppluk.com). Where a dispute is raised, PPL may place accounts on hold pending resolution of the dispute. In cases where payments are suspended in this way, any applicable performer revenue relating to the period of dispute shall automatically be allocated to the relevant performers account(s).

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Download Studio Producer Form

Fill in this form to confirm all studio producer contributions to a recording and submit to PPL to ensure everyone earns the royalties they are due.

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PPL Eligible Studio Producer Form

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Download Studio Producer Form

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