Public Performance and Do we have to pay PRS for….

Yes. However, PRS for Music does not control the licencing for dramatico-musical works. The rights for dramatico-musical works (known as Grand Rights) are normally controlled by the publisher of the work and you have to pay them directly. 

However it depends on how much of the work you are perfoming and how:

• A good general rule is that you are performing a dramatico-musical work with a staged or semi-staged element you will need to obtain Grand Rights from the publisher.
• If you are performing an extract of a work without any staging (e.g. a song from a musical as part of your programme) then it will be licenced by PRS for Music in the usual way. 

If you are performing music from a dramatico-musical work we suggest you read Grand Rights guidance. 

Yes – if it is a public performance of music in copyright you must pay royalties fee regardless of whether you charge for tickets or not. 

If you are performing at a school as part of the school activities where the entirety of any profits goes back into the school – royalties will be covered by the school’s licence.

If you are hiring a school venue as a 3^rd party you will need to pay royalties yourselves, via Making Music. 

• If the Church hall is physically joined to the church and used mostly for the congregation, it would be included under the church’s venue license or CCLI agreement.
• If it is a separate hall mostly used for secular activities then the church hall would need a separate license or you might have to pay royalties through us.

Find out more in our full guidance.

Yes, there will be royalties to pay for concerts in a church. If the Church has a venue licence with PRS for Music then you will pay any royalties through that. Some churches may have something called a CCLI licence. This covers 6 event per year, but only ones where the church, or a group associated with the church, is the organiser. If you are the organiser and are hiring a church you cannot perform under their CCLI licence, but could pay through Making Music. Find out more in our full guidance.

No – royalties are not due for music used as part of official wedding ceremonies or similar, in whatever premises the ceremony takes place. This includes:

• Religious ceremonies
• Civil ceremonies
• Civil partnership ceremonies

Yes – this would be considered as outside the domestic circle or home life.

Yes – we cannot think of a circumstance where a Come and Sing day/play would not constitute a public performance.

If the performance is for residents and staff only then it is classed as in the domestic circle. If anyone else is present (e.g. relatives/guests of the residents, a local school etc.) then it would be a public performance. 

• Attendance of guests is by personal invitation only (except for staff, performers, etc.)
• The function is held in a privately-booked room, not at that time open to the general public
• There is no form of charge made for admission
• There is no financial gain to the function’s organiser or host (e.g. the person hiring the venue)