PRS for Music suspends relationship with Russian rights representation organisation

PRS for Music has suspended its rights representation relationship with the Russian Author’s Society (RAO) as a result of UK sanctions stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine which is now reaching the end of its second week of conflict.

The royalties, copyright and licensing company issued a statement on Tuesday (08/03/2022) announcing the formal suspension of its relationship with the society, and detailing plans to support Ukrainian members.

In Tuesday’s statement, PRS states it has implemented the suspension ‘pending confirmation of [ROA’s] separation from the Russian Government and those individuals and companies on the sanctions lists.’ PRS also plan to contact their members in Ukraine to ‘offer our support in their time of need’ and are working to make financial support available to these members.

The organisation is working with Paris-based CISAC (the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers) to ‘consider the ongoing membership of Russian societies in the global network.’

PRS for Music represents the rights of songwriters, composers, and music around the world, working to grow and protect the value of its members rights and ensure creators are paid fairly whenever their work is streamed, downloaded, broadcast, performed and played in public.

The organisation stated: ‘It is not our desire to punish the Russian composer, songwriter and publisher communities who support peace,’ but will work to ‘amplify the voices of protest.’

You can find out more about PRS for Music here.