PRS for Music has reached a historic milestone, paying out royalties against a staggering 7.8 million unique works in 2025—a 41% increase over the last five years. The society, which represents over 190,000 songwriters, composers, and publishers, distributed a record £1.07 billion to rightsholders, ensuring that value is flowing across an ever-expanding repertoire of music.
For the first time in its 110-year history, revenue from live music surpassed the £100 million mark, reaching £101.4 million. This 13.2% year-on-year increase highlights the critical role of live performance in the modern music ecosystem. Particularly encouraging is the impact on emerging talent: a quarter of the 4,541 members who were paid for the first time in 2025 earned their royalties through live performances.
To support this growth, PRS has been proactive in the grassroots sector, waiving the £1 grassroots contribution from licensing fees and launching the "Livelihood" campaign to encourage setlist submissions. This effort resulted in over 231,000 setlists being reported, ensuring more performances were accurately recognized and paid.
Streaming continues to be the primary engine for music discovery, contributing £351.4 million to the total collections. Combined with a 20.1% surge in Video-on-Demand revenue, total online royalties reached £447.2 million. To better serve creators in this digital landscape, PRS transitioned to monthly streaming payments in 2025, providing songwriters with faster access to their earnings.
On the international stage, PRS members remain a global force. Revenue from overseas markets totaled £367.3 million, with Europe standing out as the most significant territory, exceeding £200 million for the first time.
Under the leadership of CEO Andrea Czapary Martin, PRS has doubled its annual collections from £621 million in 2016 to £1.24 billion in 2025. Martin emphasized that success is measured not just by the total sum, but by the speed and accuracy of payments. As the industry evolves, PRS continues to advocate for creators' rights, particularly in the realm of AI, ensuring that the work of songwriters and composers remains properly valued in a changing technological world.
