PPL makes significant Q3 distribution based on international revenue

By Emmanuel Legrand 

British neighbouring rights society PPL has made a third quarter distribution of £30.4 million from international revenue collected from 48 collective management organisations (CMOs) around the world, bringing the total distributed by PPL to its members to over £200 million since the start of the year.  In addition to the international revenue, also included in this distribution payment is more than £1.5 million from PPL’s sister video licensing company VPL, for the use of music videos by MTV’s channels across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

  The Q3 distribution included significant payments from CMOs in Denmark, France, Germany, and the USA. The London-based society said the Q3 distribution benefited over 23,000 performers and recording rights holders received a payment either as direct members of PPL or indirectly through other CMOs.

A key stream of income for performers and labels

  "PPL’s ability to collect this money is in part down to the breadth of its international relationships," said the company, noting that it has over 100 agreements with CMOs across Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America with CMOs. "PPL’s international distributions form a significant part of neighbouring rights royalty income for performers and recording rights holders," said PPL CEO Peter Leathem (pictured, below). "This latest payment means we have paid out more international revenue this calendar year than in any other, with one quarter still to go."



  Looking at the year ahead, Leathem said the expects to see a decline in international collections in 2021 due to COVID-19 lockdowns in markets around the world. However, he believes "the long-term trend is still positive." He elaborated: "Growth will arise from further licensing market penetration, improved tariff values, greater efficiencies in operations driven by collaboration and music industry data and technology initiatives, and rights being established in countries that previously had no neighbouring rights laws. PPL is – and will continue – to be a driving force behind these initiatives.”