PPL has signed a new agreement with Polish collective management organisation SAWP to support the collection and distribution of Annual Supplementary Remuneration (ASR) for performers.
The agreement establishes a framework for PPL and SAWP to exchange data and payments, helping ensure that performers are fairly remunerated when their recordings continue to be used beyond the initial copyright term.
Supporting performers in the extended term
Annual Supplementary Remuneration is a statutory right introduced following changes to copyright law, which extended the protection of sound recordings from 50 to 70 years. This allows performers – particularly session musicians who may not receive ongoing royalties – to receive additional payments during the extended 20‑year period.
SAWP were relicensed last year by the Polish Minister of Culture and National Heritage to administer ASR.
Under this new agreement, PPL will work with SAWP to collect and exchange ASR income generated in their respective territories, ensuring that entitled performers benefit from the continued use of recordings across borders.
How the agreement works
The agreement focuses specifically on ASR rights and applies to performers who have mandated their respective collecting society for cross-border representation.
In practice:
- Collection: Each society collects ASR revenue in its own territory (PPL in the UK, SAWP in Poland)
- Exchange: Performer, repertoire and payment data will be shared annually between the organisations
- Distribution: Each society distributes payments to its own members, with payments made within six months of receipt.
This collaborative approach supports efficient and accurate distribution, ensuring payments reach the performers entitled to them.
Strengthening international collaboration
SAWP is a collective management organisation representing performers in Poland and works to ensure performers receive appropriate remuneration when their work is used in Poland and internationally.
The agreement reflects PPL’s ongoing commitment to strengthening its international network and maximising returns for performers through partnerships with CMOs around the world.
“This agreement with SAWP is an important step in expanding our international ASR collection network. By working closely with our partners in Poland, we can help ensure that performers receive the remuneration they’re entitled to when their recordings continue to generate value beyond the original copyright term. It also reflects the continued focus of PPL’s international strategy – strengthening our global partnerships to deliver more revenue, more efficiently, for our members.”
– Laurence Oxenbury, Director of International at PPL
Further information about how Annual Supplementary Remuneration works, including eligibility and distribution, is available on our website: Annual Supplementary Remuneration (ASR) | PPL
