PRS for Music has launched a new licensing portal for anyone wanting to stage and livestream small-scale gigs, DJ events, classical concerts and theatrical events online.
The portal was launched in response to the huge rise in livestreamed concerts as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, however PRS will not be seeking to retrospectively license small-scale online concerts which took place throughout 2020.
In response to concerns from the wider music community, PRS later announced that members performing their own works in a small online ticketed concert can obtain a free licence.
We support PRS for Music’s decision to license livestreamed events as an effort to uphold music creators’ rights, and we look forward to further proposals. However, we also welcome the change to the proposed scheme. At a time when many songwriters and musicians are desperate for an income, PRS must engage with the industry to find solutions that can work for all.
