What is an arrangement?
An arrangement is a re-configuration of a melody or complete piece so as to add or alter harmony, rhythm, texture, instrumentation etc.
You are encouraged to check the copyright status and the source of your arrangements. Arrangements may be registered on the assumption that their creation does not infringe any copyright of pre-existing music. Royalties are divided between the relevant parties.
Arrangements Based On Non-Copyright Material
PRS regards some instances of arrangements based on non-copyright material as un-payable. These include:
- Transpositions (changing the music from one key to another)
- Tape editing (removing blocks of the original work)
- Performance instructions (including phrasing, dynamics, fingering)
- Transcriptions from one method of notation to another
Arrangements Based On Copyright Material
Arrangements based on copyright material must obtain the permission of the copyright owner. Once permission is granted the original copyright owner, not the arranger, will register the arrangement with us.
Please note: arrangements incorporating copyright material will not be accepted without permission from the original copyright owner.
Copyright Transcriptions Of Folk Music
Copyright in the transcription of folk music has always been a bit of a grey area. Copyright law states that if you write down a traditional song, this transcription becomes a copyright work. The copyright lies in the transcription and not in the traditional song.
This means the transcription is copyright. It may not be copied, reproduced, published, publicly performed or adapted unless permission is obtained from the transcriber. However, this does not prevent people from transcribing from the same source. By doing this they create their own copyright - even if their transcription is note for note the same as an exisiting transcription.