Music licensing company PPL has introduced the Eligible Studio Producer Form in a move to enhance industry working practice, after consultation with industry organisations including MPG, FAC, MMF, Equity and MU.
The form will enable all parties to agree, at the point of recording, what contributions have been made on a track.
Even though studio producers may not make audible contributions on a recording they may still, in certain circumstances, be eligible to receive royalties from PPL for their non-audible contributions made during the live recording process.
Peter Leathem, Chief Executive Officer, PPL, said: “In the past, supplying this confirmation to PPL has not been administratively easy for studio producers.
“The new form offers a practical solution for studio producers to make royalty claims. It is not a change in policy but, by introducing this simple and transparent process, it allows all parties to reach agreement at the time which in turn will clarify the payment process. In today’s digital age accurate and timely data is critical.”
Steve Levine, Chairman, Music Producers Guild added: “[The form] will really help to provide evidence of the producer's performance in the live recording, which can be used to validate any claims.”
“This allows qualifying studio producers to be paid correctly by PPL for their valuable contribution to the tracks they produce. In addition, because the studio producer is often the only person who is there on all the sessions, this form will provide accurate, additional featured performer line up data for PPL to obtain from the recording. This will help PPL from an administrative point of view and my thanks to them for driving this through and also to, amongst others, the MU, MMF, FAC as well as BPI and AIM, who give it their full support.”
The main benefits of this new form are:
- It will offer a simple, practical solution for studio producers to claim royalties from PPL.
- Both featured performers and studio producers will now be able to agree, at the point of recording, what contributions have been made on a track by a studio producer and therefore understand better from the outset how any performer royalties earned on the relevant tracks may be distributed.
- It will enable studio producers to substantiate their PPL claims more easily and consequently earn the correct royalties they deserve for making qualifying contributions to a recording.
- PPL will be able to distribute any royalties earned fairly and efficiently.
- Agreement between featured performers and studio producers via this new process helps to avoid disputes at a later date that can delay payment.
- The data that will be captured in this form will assist PPL even further in managing track line up information.
The form will be available on the PPL website and in recording studios.
A short informative video can be viewed here on the PPL website.
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