PPL previously made a significant donation to Stagehand’s Covid-19 Crew Relief Fund earlier in the pandemic. Further strengthening its commitment to the future of live entertainment and the value placed upon its workers, PPL has stepped in to support the ecosystem surrounding the wider music industry.
As the roadmap to easing lockdown in the UK gets underway, Britain’s event and concert touring personnel remain unable to return to work in any meaningful capacity. While restrictions on audience gatherings remain in place, skilled crews are left without the opportunity to earn a consistent income. Funding from the recording sector has been invaluable.
To date, Stagehand charity, which was founded by the PSA, has been able to provide some of the 20% of people who have fallen through the gaps in Governmental support with grants of up to £500 for food and housing bills.
Since its launch in September 2020, the Stagehand Covid-19 Crew Relief Fund has helped over 1,500 workers. The Fund is due to open for a fifth round of applications later this month, made possible with PPL’s generous donation.
Mike Lowe, Stagehand Chair of Trustees states: “PPL and live event production workers are at opposite ends of the music business. It is so heartening that PPL regard the entire business as one ecosystem and at a time when our sector is on its knees, offers help. PPL was the first major organisation to make a significant donation, helping to raise awareness of the plight, as well as kick-starting the campaign and inspiring other contributions.
“PPL’s most recent donation will continue to help live events crew through these extremely difficult times, and it is a very appreciated endorsement for the work that Stagehand is doing. On behalf of the Stagehand Board of Trustees and the freelance workers who will benefit, our sincere thanks to Chief Executive Officer Peter Leathem, Director David Stopps and the whole PPL Board.”
Peter Leathem, PPL’s Chief Executive Officer, says: “The pandemic has been an incredibly tough time for many, but it has also shown our industry at its best. Stagehand, as well as other hardship funds from the likes of the Music Managers Forum, Help Musicians, the Musicians’ Union, AIM and the BPI, has brought the music community together to help those facing financial difficulties. PPL is proud to continue to support these funds. We hope this latest contribution to Stagehand will help crew and production workers while the live industry plans its return.”
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NOTES TO EDITORS
About Stagehand
Stagehand has been operating for over 20 years and is the working name of the Production Services Association’s welfare and benevolent fund, a charity established to raise and distribute funds for technical touring crew who have hit hard times. With the instant decimation of the concert touring industry since the pandemic began, Stagehand has faced its biggest fundraising effort since its inception.
About PPL
Founded in 1934, PPL is the UK music industry’s collective management organisation (CMO) for over 120,000 performers and record companies. We license recorded music in the UK when it is played in public (shops, bars, nightclubs, offices etc.) or broadcast (BBC, commercial radio, commercial TV etc.) and ensure that revenue flows back to our members. These include both independent and major record companies, together with performers ranging from emerging grassroots artists through to established session musicians and globally renowned artists. PPL’s public performance licensing is carried out on PPL’s behalf by PPL PRS Ltd, the joint venture between PPL and PRS for Music.
We also collect performance rights internationally when music is played overseas in public and used on TV, radio and some online streaming services, as well as for private copying. International royalties are an increasingly important revenue stream for performers and recording rightsholders.
In 2019, in total, we collected £271.8 million across of all our revenue streams, while also distributing money to over 119,000 performers and recording rightsholders.
