The Performing Right Society (PRS) has announced significant new appointments to its governing councils following member votes at the organization’s 2025 Annual General Meeting held on Tuesday, June 3rd.
New Council Member Appointments
Writer Council
Three new members have joined the Writer Council:
Cathy Dennis – Multi award-winning singer, songwriter, and music producer
Tom Gray – Chair of the Ivors Academy, composer and songwriter
Philip Pope – Composer and songwriter
Publisher Council
Four new Publisher Council Members have been appointed:
Megan Hall – Senior Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs, Concord Music Publishing
Nigel Gilroy – Global Head of Legal & Business Affairs, Novello and Company
Daniel Lang – Senior Vice President of Global Society Relations & Digital Rights, Warner Chappell Music
Richard Paine – Director of Commercial Rights and Business Affairs, Faber Music
Julian Nott, Chair of the PRS Members’ Council, expressed enthusiasm about the new appointments: “I’m delighted to welcome our new and re-elected Council Members. The wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise that they have amassed during their careers will bring a huge amount of insight and ensure the Council continues to deliver the best possible society for members and that every part of the membership is served by the organisation.”
Historic Financial Milestone Achieved
At the AGM, Andrea Czapary Martin, CEO of PRS for Music, revealed that the society achieved a historic milestone in 2024, paying £1.02 billion to rightsholders – an 8.1% increase (£76.5 million) compared to 2023. Total revenues also grew by 6.1% (£66.6 million) to reach £1.15 billion.
This remarkable growth has been driven by the organization’s renewed commercial approach and strategic investments in data and technology infrastructure.
“PRS members have the right to demand their society think differently, challenge the norms in an industry where tradition is too often an excuse for inaction,” said Andrea Czapary Martin. “To constantly evolve to meet their changing needs and expectations. Indeed, it is because we recognise the need to constantly challenge ourselves that we have been able to double the royalties paid to songwriters, composers and publishers in less than a decade.”
Century of Growth Accelerated
The financial achievement represents a remarkable acceleration in PRS’s century-long history. While the society delivered £500 million in collections and royalty distributions over its first 100 years since 1914, it has now doubled that amount in less than a decade. PRS has successfully delivered early on its ambitious five-year plan to achieve £1 billion in royalties paid out by 2026.
Revenue Stream Breakdown and Growth Drivers
Digital Transformation Success
Online royalties continued as a primary growth engine, increasing by 9% to £401.2 million in 2024. The digital revolution’s impact is evident in the 846% increase (£358.8 million) in online royalty collections since 2015.
Gaming Sector Breakthrough
The video games sector delivered exceptional results, with PRS collecting nearly 180% more in 2024. This surge followed a landmark agreement with Sony PlayStation for their streaming service, building upon an existing download deal. This groundbreaking arrangement represents the first of its kind in Europe and establishes a framework for similar future agreements.
International Expansion
International revenues demonstrated substantial growth, reaching £351.4 million at the end of 2024 – a remarkable 79.6% increase (£155.8 million) compared to 2015 figures.
Live Performance Recovery and Growth
Public performance royalty collections showed robust recovery and expansion over recent years, increasing by 49.6% (£95.3 million) from £192 million in 2018 to £287.3 million in 2024. The year 2024 alone saw a 14% increase in these collections, primarily attributed to significant growth in the Live sector, which experienced a 30% increase compared to 2023.
Looking Forward
The combination of strategic leadership appointments and record-breaking financial performance positions PRS for Music to continue its mission of supporting songwriters, composers, and publishers while adapting to the evolving music industry landscape. The organization’s success in doubling royalty payments in less than a decade demonstrates its commitment to maximizing value for its members through innovation and commercial excellence.
