Credit: Far Out / PRS / Valentino Funghi

Robert Fripp among musicians suing PRS over royalty fees

Tue 25 June 2024 13:56, UK

King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp is one of ten musical acts that have lodged a legal complaint against PRS for Music over allegations of high-administrative fees and preferential treatment for larger acts.

The role of PRS for Music is to act as a middle man between artists and places that play music to ensure songwriters receive their fair share of royalties. Whether this is a radio station, television broadcast or live venue, if a song is performed, PRS’ job is to distribute the finances to those who wrote the track in question.

In the new lawsuit, which has been obtained by The Guardian, it’s alleged that smaller artists are essentially subsidising more successful acts who they accuse of having a “sweetheart” agreement with PRS.

Due to the control PRS has in its sector of the music industry, there would be almost insurmountable challenges for artists to navigate if they were to withdraw their music from PRS, and try to create a new system.

In total, ten claimants, also including The Jesus and the Mary Chain, have signed the suit, which has been put forward by Pace Rights Management. In a statement, they shared: “The ball is now firmly in PRS’s court. Either they constructively engage with much-needed reforms to empower and benefit writers and publishers, or they continue to resist these necessary changes, and attempt to defend the indefensible by spending yet more of the members’ money on legal costs supporting policies that make the members less money.”

Meanwhile, Fripp explained the reasoning behind his involvement, stating, “I am yet to be persuaded that the PRS operates on behalf of the membership’s best interests.”

In response, the PRS told The Guardian they had made “sincere efforts to engage constructively” and have found it “disappointing that Pace has taken the step to issue proceedings against us. We will be vigorously defending the society against these claims.”

The crux of the issue relates to songwriter royalties from live shows. For ordinary artists, the songwriter royalties fee is around 4.2 per cent of gross ticket sales, and 23 per cent of that figure is diverted to the PRS as an administration fee.

However, artists who play larger venues, such as arenas or stadiums, pay an “administrative charge” of £125 rather than the PRS taking a percentage of gross ticket sales, which the lawsuit accuses of being unfair and preferable to bigger acts.

The lawsuit also claims that PRS have placed several obstacles that make it almost impossible for artists to create independent licensing deals that don’t involve them.

In other Robert Fripp news, the King Crimson icon is set to perform with his partner, Toyah Wilcox, at Glastonbury Festival on June 30th. The couple, who have amassed a reputation since 2020 for their audacious weekly covers, will take to the Avalon Stage.

This is a developing story.