Performers
Joining PPL as a performer does not involve transferring any rights. Performers have certain statutory rights to receive a share of the licence fees for the public performance and broadcast of recordings on which they have performed. PPL simply collects and distributes the UK royalties that you are entitled to as a performer.
If, as a performer, you also choose to appoint PPL to collect your international royalties, this involves you appointing PPL exclusively to do this, either worldwide or for the countries you specify. This means you cannot appoint anyone else to do this, for the same countries, whilst your International Performer Mandate with PPL remains in force. You can see the terms of the International Performer Mandate here.
Recording rightsholders
Joining PPL as a recording rightsholder member involves transferring the right to play in public and broadcast your recorded music (and to copy it for those purposes) to PPL, for the duration of your PPL membership. All other rights in your recorded music remain with you.
If you additionally choose to appoint PPL to manage your new media rights or programme distribution rights, then you retain these rights but appoint PPL as your non-exclusive agent to enter into licences on your behalf.
You can see the relevant terms that apply to each of these appointments by following the links below:
UK Public Performance and Broadcast (Compulsory for all PPL recording rightsholder members)
UK New Media Rights
UK Programme Distribution Rights
International New Media Rights
International Programme Distribution Rights
General Terms
As a recording rightsholder, you may also choose to appoint PPL to collect your international royalties by giving us an International Collection Mandate. This involves you appointing PPL exclusively to do this, either worldwide or for the countries you specify.
This means you cannot appoint anyone else to do this, for the same countries, whilst your International Collection Mandate with PPL remains in force. You can see the terms of the International Collection Mandate here.
Where rightsholders appoint PPL to manage rights in their music videos this is done through our sister company VPL. VPL operates a core appointment and one optional appointment covering new media rights.
In addition to the membership terms, the relationship between PPL or VPL and its rightsholder members is also governed by the PPL or VPL company Articles of Association.