So my band released our album through a record label that we created. We registered our release with PPL. We got ISRC codes for each track. That bit seems quite straight-forward. It's there to copyright our songs (i think).

Now we're trying to understand PRS and MCPS. We're not publishing company and havent signed to a record company thats not us so the PRS site suggest we register as writers. Each contributing band member would need to do the same. Registering with PRS asks nothing about your releases as such but say they'll take the £10 fee out of your first royalty payment (yeah good luck with that PRS).

So then there's MCPS which is £50 to register with as a writer. However they say you have to provide evidence. First thing they say is;

"You must have at least one piece of music in which you have not entered into an agreement with a music publisher that has been:

•commercially released by a record company (other than a record company you own)"

so whats the point of that then?

Can any band in the same position tell us what we are and what we should do to protect our songs and make sure we get paid for any airplay?

Thanks! x