PRS Self-assessment tool

As part of your membership with Making Music, depending on whether you have a licence and where you performed, you might be able to pay PRS fees through us. Even if you don’t need to pay through us, you still need to make a declaration. Use this page to help you decide what you need to do.

We are currently collecting PRS fees for performances that took place between 1 November 2023 and 31 October 2024. 

I want to pay PRS fees through Making Music

You will need to pay PRS separately from your membership renewal using the information below.

If you know that you can and need to pay PRS fees through Making Music you can use our online payment page. There have been some changes to the Making Music PRS collection scheme for this year and more information about the changes can be found on our PRS tariff.

Paying for free (non-ticketed) events - Click the make a payment button below and do the following:

  • Under the PRS (Free events) section select the Click here to help calculate your PRS payment button to open the PRS calculator
  • use the calculator to enter the number of events you are paying for that fall under each of the audience brackets. For example, if you are paying for one event with an audience size of up to 50 people then enter the number 1 in the box next to the Up to 50 option.
  • Once you have entered all the free events you are paying for click the update total button to add this to your total amount
  • If you are submitting before 11 December 2024 a 5% discount will be automatically applied to your total fee

Paying for ticketed events - Click the make a payment button below and do the following:

If you qualify for the 3.25% rate as you fall under the PRS definition of amateur:

  • You will need to use the 3.25% boxes to complete your return, with each box relating to a single event. In the 3.25% box enter the gross ticket income for the event you are paying for. Note that as there is a minimum fee of £32.49 (+VAT) then if your gross ticket income is under £1000 you will need to enter a minimum figure of 1000 into this field for each event – you can declare the actual gross ticket amount as part of the programme submission
  • The form will automatically calculate the fee owed based on the gross ticket income and add this to the total amount due
  • If you are submitting before 11 December 2024 a 5% discount will be automatically applied to your total fee

If you need to pay the 6.5% rate because you do not fall under the PRS definition of amateur

  • You will need to use the 6.5% boxes to complete your return, with each box relating to a single event. in the 6.5% box enter the gross ticket income for the event you are paying for. Note that as there is a minimum fee of £32.49 (+VAT) then if your combined gross income is under £500 you will need to enter a minimum figure of 500 into this field – if less than 500 in total you can declare the actual gross ticket amount as part of the programme submission
  • The form will automatically calculate the fee owed based on the gross ticket income and add this to the total renewal amount due
  • If you are submitting before 11 December 2024 a 5% discount will be automatically applied to your PRS fee

Make a payment 

 

Submitting programmes/set-list information for performances paid for through Making Music

You will also need to send us programme/set list information for each performance that you are paying for.

  • online: by submitting them using our Programme online submission form; 
  • by email: send a copy of the programme to info@makingmusic.org.uk. Just write the audience size (for free events)/total ticket income and average ticket price (for ticketed events) on the programme and make sure that the group's name, date of performance, venue and the pieces performed (including composer/arranger name) are clearly visible.
  • post (if you can't use the online form or submit by email): just write the audience size (for free events)/gross ticket income, average ticket price and audience size (for ticketed events) on the programme and make sure that the group's name, date of performance, venue and the pieces performed (including composer/arranger name) are clearly visible. Programmes can then be sent to Making Music, 8 Holyrood Street, London, SE1 2EL.

 

I don't owe PRS fees through Making Music  

If you know you don't have any PRS fees to pay through us, you need to make a declaration confirming this. 

Declare no fees due

 

I don't know if I can pay PRS fees through Making Music 

If you don't know what PRS fees are then we suggest you look at our detailed guidance first. To help you get started we have provided a quick overview below. Then use our tool below to help you decide what to do.

PRS introduction

What are PRS fees?

Royalty fees due to copyright owners of music when their music is performed live in public.

Who collects the money?

Ultimately a company called PPL-PRS do – but they do it by having various licencees that collect the money from groups on their behalf. Most music venues are licencees, and so is Making Music, so we collect money from our members and pass it onto PPL-PRS.

So do I have to pay them?

It depends – but If you put on a live public performance of music in copyright then PRS fees will be due. Exactly who pays them varies, but generally whoever is organising the event is responsible for PRS fees.

What if the performance was free?

It doesn’t matter, fees are still due.

How much are they?

It depends - some licences are a blanket annual fee that covers all performances, most venues charge a % of box office takings. For free events we charge based on audience size, for ticketed events we charge based on a percentage of gross ticket sales.  

How do I pay?

Again, it depends. Our licence with PRS covers any situation where another licence is not already in place. Use our self-assessment tool below to work out if you owe fees and how to pay them.

PRS self-assessment tool

Did you organise any of your own performances between 1 November 2023 and 31 October 2024? 

Do not include competitions or performances where you were invited to perform

You don't need to pay PRS fees. The event organiser is responsible for paying any PRS fees.  

As part of our licence with PPL - PRS we ask members to declare when they don't owe any fees. You can do this via an online form, it will only take a few moments.  

Declare no PRS fees due   
 

Was any of the music performed in copyright? 

PRS fees are charged on a per event, not per piece basis. So if just one piece of music performed at an event was in copyright and all others aren't, PRS fees will be due.  

Copyright lasts for 70 years after the death of the composer or arranger. See our PRS FAQs for more information.

You don't need to pay PRS fees. PRS fees are only due on music in copyright.

As part of our licence with PPL - PRS we ask members to declare when they don't owe any fees using our online form, it will only take a few moments.  

Declare no PRS fees due 

 

PRS fees will be due for these performances.

The next section of the form will help you decide how to pay any fees due.

 

Does your group have its own licence with PPL-PRS?   

 

Were your performances in venues that have a licence with PPL-PRS?

If you're not sure you can search the PRS database of licensed venues.

You should pay your PRS fees through the venue's licence. You should only pay through your own licence if the venue does not have one

Please note: 

  • The venue will most likely have charged you for PRS as part of the hire (normally based on a percentage of box office). If they did not charge you there is no need for you to take action, they are the licence holder and it is their responsibility.  
  • If you performed in a Church or a School with a licence you might still have to pay through us - see notes below.
  • If you don't have to pay through us, you have to declare this to us, you can do this using our online form - it will only take a few moments.

Declare no PRS fees due 

Churches 

  • A large church that holds lots of concerts will normally have their own venue licence with PRS and it will cover your performance as above. 
  • However, smaller churches that don’t hold many performances may have a CCLI agreement:
    • This means royalties for 6 performances in a calendar year are covered. Check with the church if yours is one of these; if it is you don’t have to worry.
    • If your performance is not covered by the CCLI agreement (i.e their 7th + concert) you have to pay PRS fees, which you can do through Making Music. 
    • Which 6 performances are covered is up to the church, it is not necessarily the first 6 in a year. 

Schools 

Most schools have a PRS licence, but it only covers the school activities where the entirety of any profits goes back into the school – PRS fees will be covered by the school’s licence. So, if you are hiring a school venue as a 3rd party you will not be covered by their licence and so need to pay PRS fees yourselves, via Making Music.

Your own licence should cover any PRS fees that are due and there is no need to pay anything through Making Music. 

However, you do have to declare this to us using our online form - it will only take a few moments.

Declare no PRS fees due 

PPL-PRS have recently issued a new type of licence called 'The Music Licence', which covers live music and playing recorded music.

If you had a licence with PRS in the past they will probably have transferred you to 'The Music Licence', which could be more expensive. You might want to consider contacting PPL-PRS and ask about cancelling the licence, and paying PRS fees in a different way.  You can also contact us if you have any questions. 

     

For performances in venues with a PRS licence your PRS fees will have been covered by the venue's licence. You should only pay through your own licence if the venue does not have one.

Please note: 

  • The venue will most likely have charged you for PRS as part of the hire (normally based on a percentage of box office). If they did not charge you there is no need for you to take action, they are the licence holder and it is their responsibility.  
  • If you performed in a Church or a School with a licence you might still have to pay through us - see notes below.

For performances in unlicensed venues Your own licence should cover any PRS fees that are due and there is no need to pay anything through Making Music. 

However, you do have to declare this to us using our online form - it will only take a few moments.

Declare no PRS fees due 

Churches 

  • A large church that holds lots of concerts will normally have their own venue licence with PRS and it will cover your performance as above. 
  • However, smaller churches that don’t hold many performances may have a CCLI agreement:
    • This means royalties for 6 performances in a calendar year are covered. Check with the church if yours is one of these; if it is you don’t have to worry.
    • If your performance is not covered by the CCLI agreement (i.e their 7th + concert) you have to pay PRS fees, which you can do through Making Music. 
    • Which 6 performances are covered is up to the church, it is not necessarily the first 6 in a year. 

Schools 

Most schools have a PRS licence, but it only covers the school activities where the entirety of any profits goes back into the school – PRS fees will be covered by the school’s licence. So, if you are hiring a school venue as a 3rd party you will not be covered by their licence and so need to pay PRS fees yourselves, via Making Music.

 

 

 

 

Were your performances in venues that have a licence with PPL-PRS?

If you're not sure you can search the PRS database of licensed venues.

For performances in venues with a PRS licence your PRS fees will have been covered by the venue's licence and there is no need for you to pay anything to Making Music.  

Please note: 

  • The venue will most likely have charged you for PRS as part of the hire (normally based on a percentage of box office). If they did not charge you there is no need for you to take action, they are the licence holder and it is their responsibility.  
  • If you performed in a Church or a School with a licence you might still have to pay through us - see notes below.
  • If you don't have to pay through us, you have to declare this to us, you can do this using our online form - it will only take a few moments.

Declare no PRS fees due 

Churches 

 

  • A large church that holds lots of concerts will normally have their own venue licence with PRS - basically exactly the same as the licensed venues described above.
  • However, smaller churches that don’t hold many performances may have a CCLI agreement:
    • This covers music for all their acts of worship plus 6 additional performances.
    • The 6 additional performances only covers performances organised by the church or a group associated with a church. This means that if your group is hiring a church as a venue you cannot perform under their CCLI licence - but can pay through Making Music as above.

Schools 

Most schools have a PRS licence, but it only covers the school activities where the entirety of any profits goes back into the school – PRS fees will be covered by the school’s licence. So, if you are hiring a school venue as a 3rd party you will not be covered by their licence and so need to pay PRS fees yourselves, via Making Music.

You can pay PRS fees via Making Music: 

  • For free events we collect fees based on audience size per concert. For ticketed events we collect fees based on a percentage of gross ticket income. Our PRS Tariff outlines how much the fees are.
  • You can make payment online and pay by card or send a cheque or BACS payment. If paying for free events the online payment page has a PRS calculator that will help you work out how much you need to pay. If paying for ticketed events you will need to enter the gross ticket income into the 3.25% box (if your group falls under the PRS definition of amateur) or into the 6.5% box (if your group does not fall under the definition of amateur). The form will then work out the amount due based on the gross ticket income. More information about using the form can be found in the I want to Pay Prs though Making Music section above.

Make a payment 

 
Programmes 
 

As part of paying through us you also need to submit details of the music performed (so PRS for Music can distribute the royalties to the copyright owners). You can do this by: 

  • online: by submitting them using our Programme online submission form; 
  • by email: send a copy of the programme to info@makingmusic.org.uk. Just write the audience size (for free events)/total ticket income and average ticket price (for ticketed events) on the programme and make sure that the group's name, date of performance, venue and the pieces performed (including composer/arranger name) are clearly visible.
  • post (if you can't use the online form or submit by email): just write the audience size (for free events)/gross ticket income, average ticket price and audience size (for ticketed events) on the programme and make sure that the group's name, date of performance, venue and the pieces performed (including composer/arranger name) are clearly visible. Programmes can then be sent to Making Music, 8 Holyrood Street, London, SE1 2EL.

 

   

For performances in venues with a PRS licence your PRS fees will have been covered by the venue's licence and there is no need for you to pay anything to Making Music 

Please note: 

  • The venue will most likely have charged you for PRS as part of the hire (normally based on a percentage of box office). If they did not charge you there is no need for you to take action, they are the licence holder and it is their responsibility.  
  • If you performed in a Church or a School with a licence you might still have to pay through us - see notes below.

For performances in unlicensed venues you can pay PRS fees via Making Music: 

  • For free events we collect fees based on audience size per concert. For ticketed events we collect fees based on a percentage of gross ticket income. Our PRS Tariff outlines how much the fees are.
  • You can make payment online and pay by card or send a cheque or BACS payment. If paying for free events the online payment page has a PRS calculator that will help you work out how much you need to pay. If paying for ticketed events you will need to enter the gross ticket income into the 3.25% box (if your group falls under the PRS definition of amateur) or into the 6.5% box (if your group does not fall under the definition of amateur). The form will then work out the amount due based on the gross ticket income. More information about using the form can be found in the I want to Pay PRS though Making Music section above.

Make a payment  

 

Programmes 

As part of paying through us you also need to submit details of the music performed (so PRS for Music can distribute the royalties to the copyright owners). You can do this by: 

  • online: by submitting them using our Programme online submission form; 
  • by email: send a copy of the programme to info@makingmusic.org.uk. Just write the audience size (for free events)/total ticket income and average ticket price (for ticketed events) on the programme and make sure that the group's name, date of performance, venue and the pieces performed (including composer/arranger name) are clearly visible.
  • post (if you can't use the online form or submit by email): just write the audience size (for free events)/gross ticket income, average ticket price and audience size (for ticketed events) on the programme and make sure that the group's name, date of performance, venue and the pieces performed (including composer/arranger name) are clearly visible. Programmes can then be sent to Making Music, 8 Holyrood Street, London, SE1 2EL.

Churches 

  • A large church that holds lots of concerts will normally have their own venue licence with PRS - basically exactly the same as the licensed venues described above.
  • However, smaller churches that don’t hold many performances may have a CCLI agreement:
    • This covers music for all their acts of worship plus 6 additional performances.
    • The 6 additional performances only covers performances organised by the church or a group associated with a church. This means that if your group is hiring a church as a venue you cannot perform under their CCLI licence - but can pay through Making Music as above.

Schools 

Most schools have a PRS licence, but it only covers the school activities where the entirety of any profits goes back into the school – PRS fees will be covered by the school’s licence. So, if you are hiring a school venue as a 3rd party you will not be covered by their licence and so need to pay PRS fees yourselves, via Making Music.

 

 

 

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