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meeson · Site Admin Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 615

Pub problems hit PRS finances

Organisation reports drop in revenue from pubs and bars

The struggles of pubs has led to a drop in revenue collected by music body PRS for Music for the first time.

The organisation, which collects payments on behalf of musicians, songwriters and publishers returned £549 million to its members last year, but the revenue from pubs and clubs fell two per cent from £40.4 million in 2007 to £39.7 million in 2008.

The fall has been linked to a drop in the demand from pubs for live music licences.

A spokesman for PRS said: “The future of pubs and clubs is essential to the future of live music. Many songwriters start their careers in local pubs, providing them with valuable experience of performing to a live audience and the chance to win over new fans.

“Pubs are the training ground for future talent and it's also the first place where many songwriters begin earning their first royalties from performing.”

PRS also revealed the number of pubs with licencses for live music dropped 2.4 per cent between the beginning of 2008 and 2009.