Phonographic Performance Limited - History

History

PPL was formed in May 1934 by the record companies EMI and Decca Records, following a ground-breaking court case against a coffee shop in Bristol.

The coffee shop, Stephen Carwardine & Co, had been keeping its customers entertained by playing records. EMI, then called The Gramophone Company, argued it was against the law to play the record in public without first receiving the permission of the copyright owners. The judge agreed, establishing this as a legal principle. EMI and Decca formed Phonographic Performance Ltd (PPL) to carry out this licensing role and opened the first office in London.

The Copyright Act 1956 led to the expansion of PPL's role to also cover the licensing of broadcasters that played recorded music. Further copyright law changes in 1988 strengthened PPL's licensing position.

Under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, if recorded music is 'played in public' every play of every recording requires the permission of the owner of the copyright in that recording (usually a record company). Record companies transfer their rights in recorded music to PPL so that PPL can issue licences to businesses and effectively give them the record companies' permission for their recorded music to be played in public. "In public" is taken as meaning more than one person within earshot. If someone said they had made a public announcement, and it was made to one other person, it would be ludicrous. However to maximise fund raising this is the definition the PPL chooses to use.

In 1996, performers were given the rights to receive 'equitable remuneration' where recordings of their performances were played in public or broadcast – leading to PPL paying them royalties directly for the first time. Performer organisations PAMRA and AURA merged with PPL in 2006, leading to an annual meeting and dedicated board specifically for performers.