What we do Membership International collections Music licensing Search Join PPL myPPL Login Home About us Our history 85 years of PPL 2019: CELEBRATING 85 YEARS OF PPL PPL's journey so far In 2019, PPL celebrates its 85th anniversary, making us the oldest collective management organisation for performers and recording rightsholders in the world. Over the last 85 years of PPL’s history, we have collected more than £3.2 billion for the recording rightsholders and performers that we represent. This is the result of having a clear strategic vision, making smart investment decisions in technology, and building the expertise of our diverse workforce, all of which combine to form the modern day PPL. Collaboration has also been central to this success and I would like to thank all of our members, partners, and friends for their continued support. “Over the last 85 years of PPL’s history, we have collected more than £3.2 billion for the recording rightsholders and performers that we represent, with a third of this revenue generated in the last five years.” – Peter Leathem 1934 – 2019: A Review 1934 PHONOGRAPHIC PERFORMANCE LIMITED IS FOUNDED PPL was formed in May 1934 by the record companies EMI and Decca Records, following a ground-breaking court case against a coffee shop in Bristol. The coffee shop, Stephen Carwardine & Co, had been keeping its customers entertained by playing records. EMI, then called The Gramophone Company, argued it was against the law to play the record in public without first receiving the permission of the copyright owners. The judge agreed, establishing this as an important legal principle. EMI and Decca formed Phonographic Performance Ltd (PPL) to carry out this licensing role and opened the first office in London. 1956 THE COPYRIGHT ACT There has been much technological, social and legal advancement since PPL was formed in the 1930s. The Copyright Act 1956 led to PPL’s role expanding to cover the licensing of broadcasters that played recorded music. 1960 –70S LOVE MUSIC, LOVE RADIO The popularity and growth of radio in the 1960s and 70s led to burgeoning PPL revenues. Further copyright law changes in 1988 strengthened PPL’s licensing position. 1996 EQUITABLE REMUNERATION In 1996, performers were given the right to receive ‘equitable remuneration’ where recordings of their performances were played in public or broadcast – leading to PPL paying them royalties directly for the first time. 2006 PERFORMERS JOIN PPL Performer organisations PAMRA and AURA merged with PPL in 2006, leading to an annual meeting and dedicated board specifically for performers. 2018 PPL PRS LTD LAUNCHES Just over ten years later in 2018, the creation of a new company for public performance licensing created a landmark moment in the licensing of the UK music industry’s creative output and in PPL’s history. PPL and PRS for Music, joined forces to launch PPL PRS Ltd – jointly and equally owned by both companies. The new joint licence was called TheMusicLicence and brought to an end the need for customers to purchase separate PPL and PRS for Music licences from each individual organisation. 2019 PPL CELEBRATES 85 YEARS From collecting £1 million in our first decade of business to now collecting almost £250 million a year, we are managing more rights for more members with a larger amount of money being paid out. We have also expanded our global footprint further to collect royalties internationally through 92 agreements with our overseas counterparts for when our members’ recordings have been played in other countries. PPL In Numbers £246.8 MILLION Collected in 2018 14 MILLION Data recordings managed £3 BILLION Collected revenue for performers and recording rightsholders £429.1 MILLION Collected from outside of the UK since 2006 37,000 Recordings uploaded to the PPL Repertoire Database each week 92 Signed agreements with international collective management organisations 105,192 Performers & recording rightsholders paid in 2018 2,000 Licensed TV, radio and online stations Data recordings managed Previous 85 YEARS OF PPL To read more testimonials from our partners and sister organisations, please read our 85 YEARS OF PPL Testimonials Congratulations to Peter and his team at PPL on the occasion of their 85th anniversary. The work they do ensuring artists and record companies are justly rewarded enables us to continue to invest in creative talent. PPL stands up for the true value of music and I would like to thank them on behalf of Sony Music and our artists. Jason Iley, Chair & Chief Executive Officer, Sony Music UK & Ireland Next 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 About us News & events Work at PPL Contact us Tools & resources PPL Repertoire search PPL Member/Label search VPL Repertoire search Accessibility Cookies Terms Privacy Code of conduct COVID-19 Secure Slavery statement Help Search tools ©PPL (or its licensors) 2011-2019