PPL Pays $141M to Performers, Rights Holders in Q2 2024

In Q2 of 2024, PPL, the UK's music licensing company for recorded music, made a landmark distribution of over GBP £103.7 million ($131.5 million) to more than 133,000 performers and recording rightsholders. This represents an impressive year-on-year increase of 6% and marks the first occasion PPL has exceeded the £100 million threshold in a single distribution. 
 
The organization also reported that this payout included payments to 1,200 members receiving their first-ever disbursements from PPL. The increased revenue came primarily from public performance licensing, particularly in DJ sets and discos. Additionally, improvements in global data exchange have resulted in higher returns from international collections. 
 
In Q1 of 2024 alone, PPL paid out £17.4 million ($21.5 million) internationally as neighboring rights to over 26k performers and recording rightsholders across the globe. 
 
These figures underscore how effective PPL's network of over 110 international agreements is proving to be; it facilitated a substantial year-on-year increase (13%) in distributed funds internationally during this period, including its inaugural payment from Guatemala. 
 
Notably contributing one-third of these international revenues were pre-2022 collections enabled by advancements led by the Virtual Repertoire Database (VRDB), demonstrating how far-reaching global music data management can greatly enhance royalties collection efforts.
 
DJ and producer Joel Corry said, "The work that PPL does helps me greatly by ensuring that I am maximizing my music rights collections worldwide, which allows me further investment into delivering optimal live shows.". 
 
A significant portion of the growth experienced during Q2 was attributed to various factors, which include implementing a new public performance tariff, the Specially Featured Entertainment (SFE) tariff, launched in January last year after negotiating with industry bodies with a phased roll-out plan; SFE licenses recorded music usage at pubs, bars, and nightclubs, resulting in money distributed rising by 20% compared to the previous year. 
 
PPL's most recent report shows that dance music remains a key revenue generator. Artists like Calvin Harris, Ellie Goulding, Jax Jones, Ella Henderson, MNEK, and Becky Hill consistently featured in PPL’s most-played charts. 
 
Joel Corry adds, "As we head into the summer festival season, big thanks to PPL for all their continued advocacy and hard work.". 
 
Chris Barton from PPL reiterates the company’s commitment, saying, "We continue to invest in data, technology, and partnerships that derive value for our members and partners globally. This guarantees the compensation of performers and recording rights holders for the broadcast or use of their music in public places.
 
In conclusion, as they celebrate their 90th anniversary this year, it is clear that despite its age-old existence, PPL remains focused on innovation and collaboration with unwavering commitment towards its members, ensuring optimum compensation through global partnerships and data management techniques, while also driving the UK's recorded music licensing industry forward.