PCAM and PRS for Music hosted an evening seminar on 18 March at PRS HQ focused on music administration and royalty management — an area that, despite its financial significance, is frequently overlooked by composers and musicians working in media and advertising.
The event brought together industry speakers, PRS staff, and PCAM Committee members to review latest developments, share practical guidance, and open a broad Q&A on topics including digital royalties and artificial intelligence.
Speakers & Panelists
- David Newton — PRS Media Member Account Manager.
- Chris Green — Founder of Khaos, Composer/Creative Director of Blurred Edge, and PCAM Committee member.
- Joel Stoner — Senior Onboarding and Implementation Manager, Soundmouse by Orfium.
- Amelia Vernede — Head of Production, Father, and PCAM Committee member.
- Bankey Ojo — Composer, Sound Designer and Creative Consultant, and PCAM Committee member.
- Steven Joyce — Managing Director, Sounds Like Publishing.
Programme
5.30–5.45 pm: Welcome & Latest News
David Newton (PRS Media Member Account Manager) and Chris Green (PCAM Committee) opened the evening with organisational updates from both bodies.
5.45–6.05 pm: PRS Royalties Overview
David Newton provided a practical walkthrough of everything composers need to do to ensure royalties are correctly collected, with particular focus on digital media channels.
6.05–6.35 pm: Work Registration & Soundmouse
Joel Stoner, Senior Onboarding and Implementation Manager at Soundmouse by Orfium, explained the critical importance of registering works within music fingerprint databases, and how visibility in these systems directly affects royalty collection.
7.00–8.00 pm: Panel & Q&A
A wide-ranging panel moderated by Chris Green featured PCAM Committee members Amelia Vernede and Bankey Ojo, alongside Steven Joyce and David Newton. Topics covered included AI, copyright ownership, and the intrinsic value of human creative works.
8.00–8.30 pm: Closing Drinks & Mixer
Informal networking and 1:1 discussions with speakers.
Key Themes and Takeaways
Royalty Management & PRS Systems
David Newton reinforced that proactive administration is essential for maximising income. Many composers — particularly those working in media — leave royalties unclaimed through lack of engagement with the PRS system. Keeping registrations current and understanding how digital media royalties are tracked are foundational steps.
Work Registration & Fingerprinting (Soundmouse)
Joel Stoner’s session highlighted that registering a work is not sufficient on its own — it must also be discoverable within fingerprint databases such as Soundmouse. These tools are used by broadcasters and platforms to identify music automatically; works absent from the database risk going undetected and unpaid.
AI, Ownership & the Value of Human Creativity
The panel generated substantial discussion around artificial intelligence and copyright. Panelists explored questions of authorship and ownership in an AI-assisted landscape, the intrinsic value of human-made works, and some of the ethically questionable but currently common commercial practices emerging in this space. The session underscored that while legal frameworks remain unsettled, composers should be actively informed and engaged with these developments.
Conclusion
The evening served as a timely reminder that music administration — while often perceived as dry or complex — has a direct and significant impact on composers’ incomes. The combination of practical guidance from PRS and Soundmouse, alongside the open-ended panel discussion on AI and ownership, gave attendees both actionable steps and broader context for navigating an increasingly uncertain landscape.
The networking session provided further opportunities to discuss individual issues with speakers directly.