As part of the process, your identity and, where applicable, your address or business details will be verified. If more than one membership type applies, you will be guided through the relevant steps in myPPL.
Representatives appointed by members to administer their PPL or VPL membership will do this through their own myPPL representative account (which we will set up for you – see below). Each performer and recording rightsholder you represent must still join in their own right.
Select the membership type that applies to you
Performers
You can join PPL as a performer member if you have performed on recorded music represented by PPL that’s been broadcast or played in public (e.g. on radio, TV, in shops, offices, venues, etc.).
Recorded music represented by PPL means sound recordings owned or controlled by PPL recording rightsholder members, or by recording rightsholder collective management organisations (CMOs) with whom we have an agreement to represent their members’ rights in the UK (see the list of countries and CMOs here).
You can find more information on joining PPL as a performer here, including the international service we offer, which you can opt into when you join.
What you will need to complete your application
To register as a performer, you will create your myPPL account and then complete an online performer registration form. You will need to print and sign the form(s) as instructed, and upload the form when prompted.
As part of the process, your identity and address will be verified by a third-party provider (Persona Identities).
You will be asked to:
- Provide a live image of your government-issued photographic proof of identity
- Complete a short “selfie” check
- Upload or photograph your proof of address.
Once this step is complete, you will return to your application and submit it.
You will need to provide the following information and supporting documents as part of your registration:
- Contact details
- Bank and tax details
- Your artist/band or ensemble name, instruments played, details of up to three commercially released recordings and your UK Music Union Number (MUN), or details of other related memberships
- Valid, government-issued photographic proof of identity that includes your signature and date of birth, such as a
- Passport (including the signature page if separate)
- Driving licence (front and back)
- National identity card (front and back).
- Other forms of photographic proof of identity that include a signature and date of birth may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Proof of address dated within the last three months, showing your name and address. Accepted documents include a
- Utility bill (e.g. gas, electricity, water or internet provider)
- Bank, building society or credit card statement. Financial information can be obscured).
When signing your performer membership application
- If you are giving PPL an international performer mandate, the form must be executed as a deed. This means your signature must be witnessed by someone (who is not affiliated as your representative or agent) who must also sign and provide contact details.
- If you are not giving PPL an international performer mandate your signature does not need to be witnessed.
If you are a performer who is under 18
Please contact us for an under-18 performer registration form. In addition to the information above, you will need to include the details for your parent or guardian, who will also have to sign your application form and provide their own photographic proof of identity, proof of address (if different), and proof of relationship/guardianship.
Recording Rightsholders
You can join PPL as a recording rightsholder member if you own or exclusively license the rights in commercially released recorded music to play in public and broadcast (and related copying) that recorded music in the UK.
Commercially released recorded music means sound recordings produced for the purpose of sale and distribution to the general public.
If you hold the same rights for music videos, you can join PPL’s sister company, VPL.
See information on the rights you are granting to PPL (or VPL) when you join here, and the additional services and appointments you may choose when joining.
What you will need to complete your application
To register as a recording rightsholder, you will create your myPPL account and then complete your online recording rightsholder registration form(s). You will need to print and sign the form(s) as instructed, and upload the form(s) when prompted.
Registration forms must be executed as a ‘deed’ so must be signed by the individual (if you are a sole trader or you must have the authority to sign a deed on behalf of the recording rightsholder entity, and your signature must be witnessed by someone (who is not affiliated with your representative or agent) who must also sign and provide contact details.
As part of the process, you, as the individual signing the registration form(s), will have your identity verified by a third-party provider (Persona Identities).
You will be asked to:
- Provide a live image of your government-issued photographic proof of identity
- Complete a short “selfie” check.
Depending on the business type, additional information demonstrating the ongoing trading existence and address of the recording rightsholder business entity may be required.
Once the verification step is complete, you will return to your application and submit it.
If the joining business is a registered business entity, where possible, the ongoing trading existence and address will need to be verified against the relevant company registry (e.g. Companies House in the UK).
As part of the registration process you will need to provide:
- Your own contact details (authorised signatory)
- Your valid, government-issued photographic proof of identity that includes your signature and date of birth, such as a
- Passport (including the signature page if separate)
- Driving licence (front and back)
- National identity card (front and back).
- Other forms of photographic proof of identity that include a signature and date of birth may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
You will also need to provide additional information and supporting documentation, depending on your legal entity type. These are listed below.
If your business entity type is not listed, please contact Member Services for information.
Select your business type
UK companies or LLPs
- Business details (including company or LLP full name, registration number and registered address)
- Bank details (if receiving payment)
- Company or LLP tax details (including tax identification number and VAT registration number if VAT registered in the UK)
Sole Traders
- Your name and trading name (if different)
- Trading bank details (if receiving payment)
- Trading tax details (including your tax identification number and VAT registration number if VAT registered in the UK)
- Proof of trading address dated within the last three months. Accepted documents include a utility bill (e.g. gas, electricity, water or internet provider), bank, building society or credit card statement. Financial information can be obscured.
Partnerships
- Partnership name
- List of all named partners
- Partnership bank details (if receiving payment)
- Partnership tax details (including tax identification number and VAT registration number if VAT registered in the UK)
- Proof of trading address dated within the last three months. Accepted documents include a utility bill (e.g. gas, electricity, water or internet provider), bank, building society or credit card statement. Financial information can be obscured.
Non-UK companies or other non-UK registered entities
- Business details (including company or registered entity full name, registration number and registered address)
- Bank details (if receiving payment)
- Tax details (including tax identification number and VAT registration number if VAT registered in the UK)
- Proof of registered address and ongoing trading existence where a non-UK company or registered entity falls outside Persona’s business registry coverage area. Examples of acceptable evidence may include a business bank statement, business tax document, business insurance policy or local business registry entry.
Non-UK unregistered entities
- Business details (including legal trading name, and address)
- Bank details (if receiving payment)
- Tax details (including your tax identification number and VAT registration number if VAT registered in the UK)
- Proof of ongoing trading existence and business address. Examples of acceptable evidence may include a business bank statement, business tax document, business insurance policy or local business registry entry.
Where a rightsholder business is a sole trader, unregistered or outside of the coverage area for business registry checks*, you will be asked to provide business information to support your application.
* PPL works with a third-party, Persona Identities, to verify applicants’ identities and support business checks. Persona checks business registries in over 125 countries, including the UK, US and Australia.
Representatives
You can register your details with PPL if you have been appointed by a performer member (or a beneficiary of a deceased performer member) or recording rightsholder member to manage their PPL account on their behalf, which may include receiving payment.
What you will need to complete your application
The information and supporting documentation that you need to provide will depend on your legal entity type. You will need to complete a representative registration form and return it with the supporting documentation.
Please contact Member Services if your entity type is not listed below:
UK companies or LLPs
- Company or LLP name and registration number
- Contact details
- Valid, government-issued photographic proof of identity for the signing Director(s) or LLP designated member(s), including a passport (including the signature page if separate), driving licence (front and back), or national identity card (front and back). Other forms of photographic proof of identity that include a signature and date of birth may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Proof of registered office address
- Bank details (if receiving payments)
Non-UK companies or other non-UK registered entities
- Company or entity name and registration number
- Contact details
- Valid, government-issued photographic proof of identity for the signing Director(s) or authorised individual(s) who can sign the documents on behalf of the company or registered entity, including a passport (including the signature page if separate), driving licence (front and back), or national identity card (front and back). Other forms of photographic proof of identity that include a signature and date of birth may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Proof of registered address
- Bank details (if receiving payments)
Sole Traders
- Sole trader name and trading name (if different)
- Contact details
- Valid, government-issued photographic proof of identity, including a passport (including the signature page if separate), driving licence (front and back), or national identity card (front and back). Other forms of photographic proof of identity that include a signature and date of birth may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Proof of trading address dated within the last three months. Accepted documents include a utility bill (e.g. gas, electricity, water or internet provider), bank, building society or credit card statement. Financial information can be obscured.
- Bank details (if receiving payments)
Partnerships
- Partnership name
- Contact details
- Valid, government-issued photographic proof of identity for the nominated/payee partner, including a passport (including the signature page if separate), driving licence (front and back), or national identity card (front and back). Other forms of photographic proof of identity that include a signature and date of birth may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Proof of trading address dated within the last three months. Accepted documents include a utility bill (e.g. gas, electricity, water or internet provider), bank, building society or credit card statement. Financial information can be obscured.
- List of all partners
- Bank details (if receiving payment)
Beneficiaries
If you are the executor/administrator of a deceased performer’s estate or the beneficiary or owner of a deceased performer’s rights (as above) you can usually register with PPL to manage these rights and receive payment.
Please read the information here first and then call our Member Services team on 020 8068 1054 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, or via email at memberservices@ppluk.com, so that we can advise you on the next steps.
As well as providing information about the deceased performer’s estate, and documentation showing how you have inherited or obtained the rights, you will need to complete a form and provide photographic proof of identity, proof of address, and may need to provide entity information if relevant.
Next steps
Once you have gathered the above, head into the myPPL registration portal. You’ll be guided through a few questions to make sure you’re completing the right form(s).
If you’re not ready yet, feel free to come back when you are. You won’t be able to submit your form without the required information and supporting documentation.