Recently, a new tariff for live-stream concerts has been proposed by PRS for Music which would include a requirement of 17% of gross ticket sales. Many UK artists are perturbed by the news, and have signed an open letter to PRS for Music which expresses their concern and asks for reconsideration.
The letter was created by the Music Managers Forum (MMF) and the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC), and has the signatures of teams working with Little Mix, Dua Lipa, Liam Gallagher, Biffy Clyro, Fontaines D.C., Gorillaz, Yungblud, and many more. Addressed to PRS chief executive Andrea Martin, the letter describes the tariff as being “unviable, for both the smallest emerging artists and the biggest superstar acts.”
— The FAC (@FeaturedArtists) December 4, 2020
With a starting rate of 8% of gross ticket sales, the top charge is 17% – this is four times more than the cost for in-person concerts, at 4-4.2%. Despite proposing the charge as a “temporary experimental and non-precedential rate structure”, the MMF and FAC made it clear that this will not only be financially trying for artists, especially smaller acts, but will add more strain during the global Covid-19 pandemic.
According to the organisations, PRS has declined to enter into consultation about the proposal. The letter closes with the line: “PRS wants to show global leadership, in our view this requires communication and a transparent, open and evidence-based consultation.”
