About us
PMLL represents the rights of music publishers and issues licences on behalf of the rights-holders permitting the reproduction of printed music in education and other sectors. The licence allows users to make photocopies of printed music (and digitally downloaded printed music); as well as making further arrangements of legitimately acquired printed music under the terms and conditions of its licences.
The licence
Our licence allows users to make photocopies of printed music (and digitally downloaded printed music)
Access to printed music and making copies of printed music are essential in music education and music performance, so that students and performers have hard copies available to them of the music they are studying or performing.
The licence fees paid to PMLL are distributed as royalties to the rights-holder members.
PMLL and the MPA
PMLL is a company owned by the Music Publishers Association Group (MPA Group).
As well as safeguarding and championing the interests of its music publisher members, the MPA aims to promote the value of publishing to the wider music industry, creative industry, government and the general public.
The MPA also owns and operates the Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society (MCPS). MCPS is the UK collection society that licenses mechanical (or reproduction) copyrights.
What we do
PMLL’s first collective licence was made available to schools in the UK in April 2013.
With over 130 music publisher members PMLL now permits users to copy and arrange sheet music under a number of licensing schemes:
- Schools Printed Music Licence (SPML)
- Amateur Group Singing Licence (AGSL) for
- Amateur Choirs
- Amateur Theatre groups (for Variety Shows only)
- Music Service Licence (MSL)
- Higher Education Printed Music Licence (HEPML)
How it works
The music publishers who own the copyright in printed music grant PMLL a mandate permitting the use of their music under the licensing schemes operated by PMLL.
When granting a mandate publishers can request that specific repertoire is excluded from use under a particular licensing scheme. The fees collected from licensees under the schemes are distributed to the music publisher members of PMLL as royalties.
PMLL has a Code of Conduct which explains how we operate and deal with any complaints.
The PMLL Board
The PMLL Board is representative of the members and is made up of printed music publishers, major publishers, independent publishers and an external independent director.
The MPA chief executive is also a director without voting rights. The Board meets at least six times a year to discuss strategy, policy and operational issues such as the basis for the distribution of royalties.
Concord
MPA Group CEO
PMLL Non-Executive Director
Oxford University Press - Chair of PMLL
Bucks Music
Faber Music
Kobalt Music
Hal Leonard Europe Ltd
Roundhill/ Carlin
Corporate Members/Partners
Making Music: The UK’s membership organisation for leisure-time music, with over 4,000 groups representing around 228,000 music makers across the UK. They are dedicated to empower everyone, whatever their background or experience, to come together in their community to make or present their kind of music.
The Association of British Choral Directors (ABCD): The leading UK organisation devoted entirely to supporting everyone leading choral music. They are committed to promote, improve and maintain opportunities for the professional development of all those leading singing of any kind, whether in the classroom or in the community.
The Independent Society of Musicians (ISM): The UK’s largest representative non-union body for musicians and a nationally recognised subject association for music. They are dedicated to promoting the importance of music and supporting those working in the music profession.
Music Mark: A membership organisation, Subject Association, and an Arts Council England Investment Principles Support Organisation (IPSO) advocating for excellent musical learning in and out of school. They support their members through training and resources, connect them with the wider Music Education network across the UK, and influence on their behalf at a national level.
National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA) NODA is the national body that represents amateur theatre. Any amateur theatre society can become a member of NODA. NODA was founded in 1899, “to protect and advance the interests of operatic and dramatic art, and of societies engaged therein”
Sheet Music Anti-Piracy System
All PMLL members are able to access, free of charge, a sheet music anti-piracy system that has been built by MUSO. The system allows publishers to create an account which gives them access to their own dashboard. Publishers can then upload a certain number of works which the system will then protect. Listed works can be changed at anytime. Please contact PMLL who will be able to confirm the number of works allocated to you and can put you in touch with MUSO if you need help setting up your account.
General enquiries
If you own the copyright in printed music publications and would like to know more about what we do, please contact PMLL’s Managing Director Viki Smith.
You can also find more information about the PMLL and MPA teams, as well as information about job opportunities in music publishing on the MPA’s website (MPA Group).
For general enquiries please email:
[email protected]
Printed Music Licensing Ltd
3rd Floor, 107 Gray’s Inn Road
London WC1X 8TZ