20 June 2008
60,000 songwriters reveal Britain’s got talent
Membership of the MCPS-PRS Alliance, the organisation responsible for collecting and distributing music royalties to composers, songwriters and publishers, has risen to an all-time high of 60,000 members; an increase of 6% over the last year.
Myles Keller, Membership Development Director, MCPS-PRS Alliance, commented: ‘Our record membership figures are a very clear indication that creating music has become a far more accessible and less expensive activity, thanks to the rise of new technology. The Arctic Monkeys, Lily Allen, Sandi Thom and Enter Shikari are the tip of the iceberg when it comes to DIY music making.
This can only have positive ramifications for fans of music, who have a greater amount of choice than ever before in terms of the music that is available to them. For the industry, it demonstrates that songwriting and music publishing is going from strength to strength.’
The news of the Alliance membership hike comes a month after it announced record revenues of £562.1m for 2007.
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Notes to editors:
PRS, The Performing Right Society, creating a future for music. As a not-for-profit membership society, PRS ensures composers, songwriters and music publishers are paid royalties when their music is used. Music is everywhere, every day: live performance, TV and radio, CDs, DVDs, downloads, streams and everything in between. Royalties create a future for music by supporting creators while they continue to write. www.mcps-prs-alliance.co.uk
Contact:
MCPS-PRS Alliance Catherine George 020 7306 4229
Votive Communications Tom Stroud 020 7353 9305