Here is a little (amended) blog of what you can claim, who pays what + how royalties could be lining your pockets from live streamed gigs. From the off – the word ‘ticketed’ in this scenario means pay to watch. If the stream/video is free, this is not considered a ticketed event
Here are all the different types of livestream I could think of – if there are more, drop us an email on info@sentricmusic.com and we can get back to you there and swiftly update this blog as if nothing happened.
Live stream produced by an external promoter/party
First things first, there is likely a joke available for the phrase ‘external party’ and REMEMBER PARTIES, GUYS??? but they are all bad, so don’t try it. Anyway – useful information below.
Ticketed
If your show was ticketed, then, just like a gig in 2019’s version of planet earth – a claim will need to be made. HERE IS HOW!
It is the responsibility of your wonderful promoter or external party to fill out an application form from the PRS, pay their license fee and then dependent on how much revenue is made, you will receive royalties based on the revenue made.
Within this application form they will be required to submit all relevant info to make sure the royalties come through to your good selves. It isn’t your responsibility to submit a claim as a songwriter for Live Streamed gigs – how fabulous!
Free gig by an external promoter/party
There is no claim for you as a songwriter to be made.
‘Tip Jar’ Livestreams
Tip Jar livestreams are the ones where it is free to watch along and the audience can pay as they feel as the concert is happening. There are no licenses to pay or royalties to receive here as ‘tips’ are considered donations to you!
If you put on your own gig
This is where it can become semi complicated. You might have to pay a license, you might be exempt, you might be receiving some royalties.
So I will break down the usual scenarios
Scenario 1 – Your Gig, Your Songs only
If you put on your own gig (ticketed or free) and you only play your own original songs, then you do not need to put in a gig claim AND you are exempt from having to pay a license. Lovely stuff, no extra work for you.
Scenario 2 – Ticketed w/ Covers included in the set
Back in 2012, everyone was doing ukulele covers of I’m Yours by Jason Mraz – now let’s say you done done decided to do a throwback during one of your ticketed live streams. You pay homage to your younger self and do a cover of I’m Yours. As soon as you do a cover, during a ticketed event which YOU put on; you will be required to pay a license so Jason can receive his fair share of royalties from the money made from ticket sales.
All of this information will be submitted by your good self when you apply for the license.
You will not need to make a gig claim on your Sentric account.
Scenario 3 – Ticketed w/ Other Performers + Songwriters having a set
Remember when you went to a gig and there were support acts? You probably found some of your favourite artists that way and you now have an exhausting anecdote about ‘knowing x before they were big’.
In a very similar way, if you put on a TICKETED livestream and you have your pals or other artists perform as part of your livestream – you will need to pay a license so the other songwriters can collect a royalty from the revenue made. You do not need to put a claim on the Sentric Website as all of that info will be part of the license you apply for.
Scenario 4 – Free Gig with covers and/or support acts
There will be no license to pay and no royalty to receive.
If scenario 2 or 3 applies to you – head to the PRS and you can pay for your license there.