PRS for Music
PRS for Music is a UK-based collective rights management organization founded in 1914, representing over 180,000 songwriters, composers, and publishers. It licenses public performance rights and distributes collected royalties to its members, collecting £1.24 billion in 2025.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1914
- HeadquartersNew Britain, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What PRS for Music does
PRS for Music is a UK-based collective rights management organization (PRO) founded in 1914 that licenses public performance, broadcast, and digital rights on behalf of more than 180,000 songwriters, composers, and music publishers. Following its 2009 merger with PPL (Phonographic Performance Limited), the organization operates as a member-owned mutual with no external shareholders or parent company. Its core function is to collect licensing fees from music users — streaming platforms, broadcasters, venues, and live event organizers — and distribute net royalties to rights holders, with a catalog of 7.8 million unique works generating royalties as of 2025 (a 41% increase since 2020).
PRS for Music firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PRS for Music
- Legal name
- PRS for Music
- Website
- https://prsformusic.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1914
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- PRS for Music is a UK-based collective rights management organization founded in 1914, representing over 180,000 songwriters, composers, and publishers. It licenses public performance rights and distributes collected royalties to its members, collecting £1.24 billion in 2025.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PRS for Music industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Music Rights Management
- NAICS
- Music Publishers (51223), Music Publishers (512230)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Patent Owners & Lessors (6794)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) & Public Performance Licensing (MPAIAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Contracting, Licensing & Rights Management (Music/Performance Releases) (HSACAHAM)
Keywords
Where PRS for Music is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New Britain
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
PRS for Music business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Royalty collection and distribution: PRS collects royalties from music users (streaming platforms, broadcasters, venues, live events) and distributes to songwriters, composers, and publishers. Revenue from live music exceeded £100 million for the first time in 2025, reaching £101.4 million, representing 13.2% year-on-year growth.
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
PRS for Music product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PRS for Music (Performing Right Society Ltd) is a UK collective rights management organization that licenses the public performance rights in musical works to commercial music users, collects the resulting fees, and distributes royalties to its songwriter, composer, and music publisher members. It also represents its members' interests internationally through reciprocal agreements with sister collecting societies and supports the music ecosystem via programs such as the Ivor Novello Awards.
Product overview
PRS for Music is a UK-based collective rights management organization (PRO) that handles royalty collection and music copyright licensing. The organization collects and distributes royalties on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers. Key services include public performance licensing, live music licensing, and digital licensing. PRS for Music represents over 180,000 songwriters and composers, and in 2025 collected £1.24 billion in royalties with £1.07 billion paid out to members. The organization operates a single unified service focused on rights management and royalty distribution rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture with distinct named products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Public performance licensing
- Live music licensing for events and concerts
- Broadcast and online audio-visual music licensing
- Royalty collection and distribution service
Quantifiable outcome
- £1.07 billion paid out to members in 2025
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use PRS for Music
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
PRS for Music technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
PRS for Music partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- IPRS (Indian Performing Right Society)corePRS for Music and IPRS reached a licensing agreement to facilitate the launch of Apple Fitness+ in India, enabling proper licensing coverage for the streaming fitness service's launch in the Indian market.
- Apple Fitness+coreApple Fitness+ launched in India through the PRS for Music and IPRS licensing agreement, enabling the streaming fitness service to legally operate with proper music licensing coverage.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
PRS for Music competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.): One of the two dominant US PROs alongside ASCAP. Operates the same collective licensing, royalty collection, and distribution model as PRS for Music, with reciprocal agreements enabling cross-border royalty collection.
- ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers): US-based PRO representing songwriters, composers, and music publishers. Operates the same collective rights management model as PRS for Music, collecting public performance royalties and distributing to members, with reciprocal agreements covering UK and US repertoires.
- GEMA (Gesellschaft für musikalische Aufführungs- und mechanische Vervielfältigungsrechte): Germany's PRO representing songwriters, composers, and music publishers. Operates the identical collective rights management model as PRS for Music within the German-speaking European market and has reciprocal agreements with PRS.
- JASRAC (Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers): Japan's PRO representing music creators and publishers. Direct peer operating the same collective licensing model as PRS for Music in the Japanese market, with reciprocal agreements for international royalty collection.
- SIAE (Società Italiana degli Autori ed Editori): Italy's PRO representing authors, composers, and music publishers. Operates the same collective rights management model as PRS for Music within the Italian market, with reciprocal agreements for cross-border royalty collection.
- APRA AMCOS (Australasian Performing Right Association): Australasia's PRO representing songwriters, composers, and music publishers. Operates the same collective rights management model as PRS for Music across Australia and New Zealand with reciprocal agreements.
- STIM (Svenska Tonsättares Internationella Musikbyrå): Sweden's PRO representing songwriters, composers, and music publishers. Operates the same collective rights management model as PRS for Music in the Nordic market with reciprocal agreements covering UK and Swedish repertoires.
- SACEM (Société des Auteurs, Compositeurs et Éditeurs de Musique): France's PRO representing songwriters, composers, and music publishers. Direct peer operating the same collective licensing and royalty distribution model as PRS for Music, with reciprocal agreements covering French and UK repertoires.
- PPL (Phonographic Performance Limited): UK-based PRO for recorded music rights representing performers and record companies. PPL merged with PRS in 2009 to form PRS for Music; it remains a structurally similar collective rights organization operating in the same UK market with parallel licensing functions.
Regional players
- IPRS (Indian Performing Right Society): India's PRO representing songwriters, composers, and music publishers. Recently partnered with PRS for Music to license Apple Fitness+ in India, and operates the same collective rights management model in the South Asian market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
PRS for Music social profiles
Digital presencePRS for Music financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PRS for Music leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
PRS for Music funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PRS for Music M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PRS for Music
What does PRS for Music do?
PRS for Music (Performing Right Society Ltd) is a UK collective rights management organization that licenses the public performance rights in musical works to commercial music users, collects the resulting fees, and distributes royalties to its songwriter, composer, and music publisher members. It also represents its members' interests internationally through reciprocal agreements with sister collecting societies and supports the music ecosystem via programs such as the Ivor Novello Awards.
Is PRS for Music a public or private company?
PRS for Music is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was PRS for Music founded?
PRS for Music was founded in 1914. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is PRS for Music based?
PRS for Music is headquartered in New Britain, United States, in the North America region.
How does PRS for Music make money?
One revenue line is on record: royalty collection and distribution.
Who are PRS for Music's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.), ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), GEMA (Gesellschaft für musikalische Aufführungs- und mechanische Vervielfältigungsrechte), JASRAC (Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers), SIAE (Società Italiana degli Autori ed Editori), APRA AMCOS (Australasian Performing Right Association), STIM (Svenska Tonsättares Internationella Musikbyrå), SACEM (Société des Auteurs, Compositeurs et Éditeurs de Musique) and PPL (Phonographic Performance Limited). IPRS (Indian Performing Right Society) is listed as a regional player.
Does PRS for Music have an API?
No public API is recorded for PRS for Music.
What industry is PRS for Music in?
PRS for Music's product category is Music Rights Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAKAA, Performing Rights Organizations (PROs) & Public Performance Licensing, with a secondary code of HSACAHAM, Contracting, Licensing & Rights Management (Music/Performance Releases). Its NAICS code is 51223 and its SIC code is 8600.