Music Venue Trust has launched the 'Set The Record Straight' campaign targeting PRS For Music over unfair and opaque licensing fees for UK grassroots venues. The initiative highlights over £666,000 in billing discrepancies and unclaimed royalties. Venues and artists report crippling bills and systemic issues in fee calculations.
Music Venue Trust (MVT), representing hundreds of UK grassroots music venues, announced the 'Set The Record Straight: Fair Licensing Fees' campaign on April 14. The effort aims to address PRS For Music's licensing practices, which MVT describes as relying on estimates rather than actual usage, incorrect capacity figures, and unclear liability between promoters and venues. PRS collects royalties for public performances of members' music and distributes them to songwriters and composers worldwide. MVT identified more than £666,000 in discrepancies across England, Scotland, and Wales, including £56,000 in the North West, over £80,000 in Wales, and nearly £50,000 in London. One venue faced a £90,000 error that could have led to closure. Dylan Clarke, booker at The Brook in Southampton, described receiving massive unexpected bills after months of silence from PRS, involving around 1,000 emails and three account managers. With MVT's help, his venue secured a £1,000 monthly repayment plan. Clarke estimated £14,000 in unclaimed royalties from his venue between March 2022 and June 2025, much of which should reach PRS-registered artists. Artist Sam Duckworth, known as Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly., shared experiences of misallocated payments and urged PRS to modernize with technology and allow opt-outs if ineffective. PRS stated that unclaimed royalties are held for at least three years for claims and emphasized shared responsibility for data like setlists. A spokesperson noted ongoing investments in data tools, including AI for fan-generated setlists. MVT's Gareth Kelly stressed accurate and fair fee application, while CEO Mark Davyd called for greater transparency in the complex licensing system. The campaign comes amid challenges for grassroots venues, with 30 closures between July 2024 and July 2025, over half unprofitable, and thousands of jobs lost.