To be paid equitable remuneration as a performer by PPL, you must have given a ‘performance’ on a recording in the PPL Repertoire database, and it must be a ‘qualifying performance.’ Once you become a member, you can search the PPL repertoire database of over 28 million tracks for the recordings you have performed on.
Which performances are eligible for PPL royalties?
A ‘performance’ generally includes all audible contributions to the recording. This includes playing instruments, electronics, vocals and other audible contributions such as sound effects and even clog dancing. You can check out every contribution that constitutes a performance here.
In addition, certain inaudible contributions (such as the contribution made by a conductor or studio producer) may also be treated as a performance, where the conductor/studio producer conducts or provides a similar musical direction to another performer’s live performance as it is being recorded.
When using the myPPL online portal to make a performer claim against PPL repertoire (i.e. to be added to the performer line-up on a recording, in the PPL Repertoire Database), performers are requested to select a role to identify their contribution (e.g. role ‘BVC’ for backing vocals). Roles are split into a number of types, not all of which are eligible for payment. Non-payable roles include certain studio activities, which add no audible contribution to the final sound recording.
What is a ‘qualifying performance’?
PPL has to work within certain legal rules about what makes a performance a ‘qualifying’ performance so that the performer may be entitled to royalties from PPL. In summary, a performance can qualify in one of two ways:
- Based on which country the performance took place in
- Based on the country of residence / citizenship of the performer at the time they gave the performance
In each case, the test is whether the relevant country of performance or country of residence/ citizenship is classed as a ‘qualifying’ country under UK law. The list of qualifying countries is updated from time to time. It covers all EU member states, plus many other countries, each of which the UK considers offers sufficient protection of performers’ rights. For all the rules covering performer qualification – including the list of qualifying countries, read the Performer Qualification Rules.
How to claim your performance
If you are not listed as a performer, you can claim for your performance to be added to the performer line-up. You may need to provide evidence, and we will let you know if this is the case. If the track you performed on is not on the database, you should contact the rightsholder to request it is added.
How to submit a performer claim
When are studio producers entitled to PPL royalties?
Although a studio producer’s contribution to a recording is typically inaudible, their contribution may be treated as a ‘performance’ (meaning that they may be entitled to receive royalties from PPL) in some cases.
This applies where a studio producer conducts or provides a similar musical direction to another performer’s live performance as it is being recorded. Alterations made to a recording after the recording has been made, such as edits or remixes, will not qualify (but if the new versions involve new audible performances then these may be eligible for royalties).
When a studio producer who has contributed in this way is added to the performer line-up of a recording, they are always added as a non-featured performer.
The PPL Eligible Studio Producer form allows studio producers to claim royalties and provides more information. The form must be completed by both the studio producer and the featured performers on the recording, and then submitted to PPL for a claim to be made.
International Performer Number
If you’re a performer, it helps to have an International Performer Number (IPN) to get paid when your music is broadcast or played in public. The International Performer Number (IPN) is a unique number used to identify performers registered with collective management organisations (CMOs) around the world. To get an IPN, you need to be on the International Performer Database, which you can do by registering with a collective management organisation such as PPL in the UK. Find out more about the IPN here.
Performer representatives
If you are the representative of a performer (e.g. manager) you can be granted access to manage that performer’s PPL account on their behalf. First, you will need your own PPL account as a performer representative, which you can do via myPPL by selecting the “I am a representative of a performer or recording rightsholder” option. Once your account has been set up, you can then follow the process to be granted access to the relevant performer’s PPL account.
If the performer you represent isn’t currently a PPL performer member, an account will need to be set up for them. Read more about becoming a PPL member here.
Register as the beneficiary of a deceased performer
In the UK, a performer’s right to receive equitable remuneration from PPL lasts for 70 years from when the recording is made or released. If a performer dies within this period, this right is transmissible upon death.
In addition, following changes in the UK law in 2013 to extend the term of copyright protection for sound recordings from 50 to 70 years, certain performers (primarily session musicians) have a right to receive ‘supplementary remuneration’ during the extended term of copyright (for recordings with a (P) date of 1963 and beyond, when the recordings are in the 20-year extended term). The longer term of copyright protection makes it even more likely that it may be a performer’s beneficiary, rather than the performer, who will become entitled to receive PPL payments at some stage.
It is also important to bear in mind that the UK rights to equitable remuneration and supplementary remuneration are personal rights which, under UK law (CDPA 1988), are not freely transferrable by a performer during their lifetime, so we expect the rights to form part of a performer’s estate.
It is PPL’s policy to receive copies of formal, court issued probate documents and the will (if there was one) along with PPL documents signed by the executor(s)/administrator(s) and copies of their ID. It is also PPL’s policy to pay deceased performer monies into one bank account. The executors/administrators can also tell us what should happen to the rights going forward.
For a performer who died while resident in England or Wales, for example, you would be asked to provide:
- Grant of representation including any attachments, i.e.:
– full grant of probate with a will attached; or
– letters of administration (with or without a will attached) - ID of executor(s)/administrator(s)
- Deceased change of details form*
As well as the above documents, you may also be required to provide the following:
- Death certificate
- Registration form (if performer was not previously registered with PPL)*
- Representative appointment form* (if you wish to appoint a third party to deal with PPL on your behalf)
*If there are multiple executors/administrators to an estate then these forms will need to be signed by all executors/administrators.
If the performer resided outside of the UK when they died, the formal, court issued probate documents will be those relevant to the legal rules of that place of residence and additional information regarding the relevant probate process applicable to that territory will also be required (along with informal translations of documents that are not in English).
We understand that there are circumstances when, legally, it will not be necessary to obtain formal, court issued probate documents and you should let us know when you get in touch if this applies. We will require additional information and documentation in such circumstances.
As the beneficiary of a deceased performer, you will need to join myPPL and register as a beneficiary of a deceased performer – once you have joined, we will let you know about the documentation you will need to provide.
An existing beneficiary can transfer rights prior to their death; however, if those rights have not been transferred during their lifetime but form part of the beneficiary’s estate, PPL will need the same information as for a deceased performer before transferring the rights again.
If you would like any help, please contact PPL’s Member Services team on 020 8068 1054 or via email at memberservices@ppluk.com.