A record high number of over 1,000 songwriter, composer and music publisher members participated in the PRS AGM and voting process. Photo: Shutterstock
This was announced at the PRS for Music AGM, which took place on Tuesday 18 August, and we believe it is a significant step forward in terms of individual songwriters' and composers' influence and engagement with PRS decision making.
The governance changes include:
- The current PRS Board to be reconstructed as the Members’ Council – with a renewed focus on member engagement, and ensuring the views of the membership are reflected in decision making;
- The Members’ Council will be smaller than the current PRS Board, although there will be a small increase in the number of independent non-executives.
- The new Members’ Council will appoint a Writer President – to champion PRS and its membership;
- A limit on the amount of terms that Directors can serve on the Council (5 x 3-year terms) – to encourage diversity;
- The election of Writer and Publisher Council members – to be changed to collegiate voting in order that only Writer members vote for Writer candidates, and similarly only the Publisher members vote for Publisher candidates. This means writers alone will get to decide who represents their views.
- Three designated seats for the highest earning Publishers – this would enable the Publishers to be on the Council without going through the ballot process, but they would not be able to participate in the ballot or appointment process for the other Publisher seats on the Council.
Find out further information on this and other decisions made at the PRS for Music AGM.