The Scottish Mail on Sunday

Ellie helps rights firm PPL to a record year

- By SARAH BRIDGE

POP stars enjoyed a record year of earnings from public performanc­es of their music in 2015, the industry’s royalty collector has revealed.

Cash rolled in for musicians from broadcaste­rs and internet companies, as well as from thousands of small firms – including shops, restaurant­s, bars, gyms, offices and nightclubs – which are required to buy a licence to play music on their premises.

PPL, which licences the use of recorded music, said it had ‘collected more money than ever before’ in 2015 after issuing licences to more than 360,000 venues, raising £197million, up from £187million the previous year. After expenses, £167million was paid out to 71,000 performers – up from £156million the previous year.

The annual chart compiled by PPL found that the most played song of 2015 was Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars.

Next came Ellie Goulding’s Love Me Like You Do and James Bay’s Hold Back The River. Ed Sheeran was the most widely played artist, followed by Taylor Swift and Olly Murs.

Licences issued to small business for playing music on site have in the past infuriated small company owners, who have complained of the cost and bureaucrac­y of getting permission to play music in the background.

Critics claim the existence of a separate licensing body, PRS for Music, which collects and distribute­s money on behalf of songwriter­s, composers and publishers, has added to the confusion.

Next year PPL and PRS will set up a joint venture to streamline the collection of licence money and the payment of royalties.

It is claimed that the planned merger will help to make it easier for small companies to deal with the procedures.

 ??  ?? SMASH HIT: Ellie Goulding’s Love Me Like You Do was one of 2015’s most played songs
SMASH HIT: Ellie Goulding’s Love Me Like You Do was one of 2015’s most played songs

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