PRS for Music sets new benchmark: Songwriters and composers receive unprecedented royalty payouts of £943.6 million - a 13% increase on last year 28 May 2024
- Royalties from music used online (music streaming, video-on-demand and video games) saw the highest year-on-year percentage growth (23.2% or £67.9 million) and highest distribution at £360.3 million.
- Escapism by RAYE ft. 070 Shake, Calm Down by Rema, and Boy's a Liar by PinkPantheress, were just some of the most streamed tracks of the year featuring PRS writers.
- New seasons of acclaimed dramas The Bear, The Crown, Succession and Top Boy were released last year, all of which featured music by PRS composers and songwriters.
- OSCAR-winning Barbie was one of the most streamed pay-to-watch movies at home in the UK, featuring chart-topping Dance the Night by Dua Lipa, while Saltburn caused chart disruption with its now (in)famous sync of Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Murder on the Dancefloor.
- Music by PRS writers played and performed overseas generated an additional £69.9 million last year, and distributions from the use of members' works used overseas grew by 19.35% (£45.8 million) to £283.4 million last year.
- Europe remained the most important market for members' music, with collections exceeding £181 million, up £34 million (23%). Total royalties from North America, increased by 25% (£21.1 million) to over £105 million in 2023, predominately driven by increased online and radio income.
- World tours from PRS members last year, including Harry Styles, Sam Smith and Shania Twain, contributed to an overall 93% increase in international live income.
- International royalties collected through the Major Live Concert Service (MLCS) increased from £6.2 million to over £19 million, an uplift of 210% in 2023.
- Royalties paid out from public performance, including live music, were £3.7 million higher in 2023 (2.0%), reflecting continued buoyancy of stadium and arena live events.
- Arctic Monkeys, Burna Boy, and Busted, were among those who led the charge for live music tours in the UK last year. Noteworthy one-off special UK events such as Eurovision being hosted in Liverpool and Download Festival extending its lineup for its 20th anniversary, contributed to this result.
- Revenues from the retail sector was £1.8m higher than in 2022, benefitting from increased use of PRS' repertoire in shops and bars.
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THE HEADLINES
Did things really get better in 2025 for the UK's music business? (see Comment)
BRIT Awards 2026: Nominations and reactions (see News)
Music Venue Trust annual report highlights ongoing issues, and optimism (see News)
Do Spotify’s AI Playlists change how algorithmic discovery actually works? (see Features)
A&R 2026: We lost "R" (see Opinion)
Do most artists peak with their first album? (see Analysis)
Court battle over unpaid royalties could have implications for the industry in the streaming era (see News)
Luminate released its 2025 year-end music report (see Reports)
Impala sets out crucial questions on UMG/Downtown, AI, sovereignty and more for EU & music sector (see Comment)
Spotify’s new co-CEOs highlight what’s ahead for the company (see Digital)
Music publishers sued by X in growing licensing battle (see News)
Call on EU to clamp down on unauthorised ticket reselling (see News)