PPL bolsters its partnership with music technology company Salt through the implementation of Salt Match, which matches music usage data to recordings in PPL’s Repertoire Database.
Salt’s platform matches received data with greater speed and superior accuracy, delivering increased value to performers and rightsholders.
Matched usage data is the foundation on which PPL calculates royalties due to performers and recording rightsholders, and Salt Match has improved PPL’s auto-match rates by 23% since it soft-launched in September 2025.
This improvement is particularly significant given the unprecedented growth in usage data volumes and new repertoire registrations, and reduces the manual effort needed to then make those matches.
On average, PPL receives details for 45,000 new recordings each week, driving the need for a platform that can scale quickly.
PPL is the first recorded music Collective Management Organisation (CMO) to utilise Salt’s matching technology. Salt currently works with several publishing collection societies around the world including the MLC (U.S.) and Buma Stemra (Netherlands).
Mark Douglas, Chief Information Officer, PPL, said: “Whether providing our own proprietary technology to other CMOs or working alongside them to build shared systems and processes, PPL has always been a firm believer in collaboration. A collaborative approach removes unnecessary cost and duplication from the industry allowing more money to flow to rightsholders and performers.
“We’re proud to live and breathe that philosophy and be the first recorded music CMO to adopt Salt’s technology. The Salt team has a proven track record in building innovative and scalable solutions, and we are already seeing their usage and matching technology speeding up this work and helping deliver improved returns for performers and recording rightsholders.”
Doug Imrie, Founder and CEO of Salt, adds: “PPL plays a vital role in the recorded music ecosystem, and we’re proud to be working with them as the first recorded music CMO to deploy Salt’s matching technology. As usage data volumes and repertoire continue to grow, accuracy, scale and automation are essential to ensuring performers and rightsholders are paid correctly and efficiently. Alongside core matching, PPL will also benefit from early access to Salt’s AI services, designed to further improve automation and reduce friction.”
PPL previously worked with Salt’s sister company Stage to build the Repertoire Data Exchange (RDx), the music data exchange service for record companies and music licensing services, developed in partnership with IFPI, representing the recording industry worldwide, and WIN, representing the global independent community.
