All about IMPEL
What is IMPEL?
Independent Music Publishers European Licensing (IMPEL) is a trading name for
Mechanical Copyright-Protection Society Limited (MCPS), where independent music
publishers have appointed MCPS to license and administer the mechanical rights in
their Anglo-American repertoire in online activities on their behalf.
Why chose IMPEL?
IMPEL offers the benefits of collective rights management to independent
publishers; the ability to combine their repertoire and offer it on a multi-territory
basis to major digital music-service providers through a single rights manager.
IMPEL provides this service by using PRS For Music’s systems, resources and
expertise, with benefits including increased transparency, faster transfer of
payments and faster clearance of rights (see below for further information about
PRS For Music).
How do I join?
IMPEL is open to new members to add their repertoire at any time throughout the
year. Potential members are guided through the joining process by our welcome
committee which takes up to 3 months
For further information on how to join please contact [email protected].
Who do we work with?
Which publishers’ repertoire is already included in IMPEL?
•Beggars Music Limited
•Oyez! UK
•Bucks Music Group
•Peer Group
•Carlin Music Corporation
•Proof Songs Limited
•Conexion Music Limited
•Red Ink Music Limited
•Defensive Music Limited
•Reservoir Media Management Inc
•EPM Online
•Reverb Music Limited
•Fairwood Music (UK) Limited
•RZO Music Ltd
•Fintage Music Group
•S2K Music Ltd
•Hornall Brothers Music Limited
•Sentric Music Limited
•Imagem UK Limited
•Shapiro Bernstein & Co
•Kassner Associated Publishers
•Songs Music Publishing LLC
•Minds on Fire (formerly Club Row Music) •Spirit Music Publishing
•Moncur Street
•The Music Sales Group
•Mute Song Limited
•Truelove Music
•Nettwerk One Music Limited
•Warp Music Limited
•Ole (UK)
•Westbury Music Limited
•Wixen UK Limited
What is IMPEL’s relationship with PRS For Music?
PRS for Music is a trading name for Performing Right Society Limited (PRS).
IMPEL has employed the service of PRS For Music to provide its licensing expertise
and first class back office administration as it believes PRS For Music to be the most
transparent and efficient collection society in Europe.
PRS For Music is also able to match the mechanical rights in the Anglo-American
repertoire managed and administered by IMPEL, via MCPS, with the performing
rights in the Anglo-American repertoire owned, controlled or managed by PRS; this
enables a ‘one-stop shop’ for the licensing of independent publishers’ repertoire
across the world.
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Getting Started: Your transition to IMPEL
IMPEL aims to make the transition as easy and fast as possible for you. To
enable us to do this, we take the approach outlined in our ‘IMPEL Set up
process document’. In addition to key stages, some of the detail for each
are provided. Templates for each of the steps below are provided within
our ‘How to’ guides on the USB.
Sub-Publishing reports: Stage 1C & 2C
IMPEL will supply sub-publishing reports generated from the information we hold on
our databases. This will be provided to you to verify. You will need to confirm this
information and the details of any other sub-publishing networks and/or managed
catalogues not identified by PRS, as we may not have these in our database.
Work-list prioritisation: Stage 3C & 4C
IMPEL will create a UK top 100 or 250 work-list based on the last three years’
performing income. We will do this to ensure that we focus any agreement and
catalogue work to top catalogues where there is more value for you. To help us do
this, you will need to provide details (including registration confirmation) of topearning works outside of the UK, as we may not have all of this in our databases.
Repertoire withdrawal scope: Stage 3D & 4D
You will need to confirm to us the scope of repertoire withdrawal if different from
standard definition (provided below).
Confirmation of withdrawal and restructure: Stage 3D & 4D
You will need to provide us with written confirmation that you have withdrawn from
any sub-publishing network for online usage and have re-structured your
agreements accordingly.
Distribution file formatting: Stage 5E
IMPEL will provide you with a sample CRD4+ distribution file so that you can see
the format and make any necessary changes to your systems.
Payment details: Stage 3E
You will need to confirm to us statement and payment details for a D&M PEL only
record, as payment and statement details may vary from standard records.
Tax confirmation: Stage 4E
You will need to confirm with UK tax office that the relevant paperwork exists with
tax authorities outside of the UK.
Set up process stage 1C and 2C
Sub-Publishing Reports
We will provide you with sub-publishing reports from the information we hold on
our databases and ask you to verify that this is correct. The information you receive
will resemble the sample below where we have added explanation to the detail:
Common
Identifying
Number
Subpublisher
associated
with
agreement
Subpublisher
associated
with
agreement
Common
Identifying
Number
Unique
agreement
number in ICE
Alphanumeric
code for a
territory
Class of each
agreement
contained
within the
hierarchy
Class of each
agreement
contained
within the
hierarchy
Associated
to an
agreement
for specific
writer
Alphanumeric
code for a
territory
Performing
collection
shares
Mechanical
collection
shares
Unique
agreement
number in ICE
No. of
works
subject to
agreement
Original
publisher
ownership
shares
Alliance
contract
ID
Performing and
Mechanical
shares
Alliance
contract
ID
Original
Publisher
Original
publisher
IPI
number
Original
publisher
territory of
control
Original
publisher
ownership
shares
Date
agreement
ends
As we may not hold all the information required in our databases, you will be
required to provide us with details of any other sub-publishing networks and/or
managed catalogues not identified by us.
One of our team will be in touch with you after you have received the initial reports
to discuss any areas that we may need to look further and to ensure that
everything you consider should be registered is accurate and the copyright picture
for your works is correct.
Since this is an important part of the information required by IMPEL to complete the
necessary work on your transition, we therefore request that you provide this as
early as possible.
Setup process stage 3C and 4C
Work list prioritisation
IMPEL aims to complete your transition within three months. However, to ensure
that we are focusing on the works that provide the most value to you first, we will
create a UK top work list based on the performing income of the last three years.
This list provided to you will look like the sample below:
TUNECODE
WORK_TITLE
MEMBER_NAME
MEMBER_CAE_NUMBER
MEMBER_EARNINGS
WORK_EARNINGS
123456AB
Song 1
Publisher A
123456789
2860.01
123456CD
Song 2
Publisher A
123456789
2853.9
123456EF
Song 3
Publisher B
987654321
2388.74
WORK_RANK
2860.01
1
2853.9
2
Total
work
earning
for
2388.74
each
work
measured
2378.5
over
an
agreed time
2146.49
period.
Variance
in
1913.94
this column
would be a
1910.13
result
of
Publisher not
1908.72
owning 100%.
Works
ranked
in order
of value
over
agreed
period
(highest
earning
first).
3
Song 6
Publisher/
Catalogue/
Publisher
B
Member
Publishername
B
123456MN
Song 7
Publisher C
678954321
Publisher
earning for 2378.5
each work
measured 2146.49
over an
agreed 1913.94
time
period 1910.13
123456OP
Song 8
Publisher B
987654321
1908.72
123456QR
Song 9
Publisher C
678954321
1723.266
1723.266
9
123456ST
Song 10
Publisher A
123456789
1441.88
1441.88
10
123456GH
This is the PRS
for Music
123456IJ
tunecode
assigned to
123456KL
the work
Song 4
Song 5
Publisher A
123456789
Unique
Publisher/
987654321
Member/
Composer
987654321
Number
To help us make sure that we are focusing on the right agreements and
catalogues, we would like you to provide us with details (including registration
confirmation) of top-earning works outside of the UK. This will ensure that we
capture all the information right from the start of your membership and help to
make sure that we are able to prioritise the preparatory work on the account to the
works that will impact you most.
You will only need to supply us with details of the top-earning works outside of the
UK. For these we would ask that you supply these details to your Account Manager
in a list detailing the tunecode and work title.
4
5
6
7
8
Set up process stage 3D and 4D
Repertoire withdrawal
You will only need to advise us of the scope of any repertoire withdrawal if it differs
from the standard definition below:
Standard definition of Anglo-American repertoire
While the writer’s affiliation must be with an Anglo-American society as listed
below, the works themselves do not have to be in the English language.
The standard definition of ‘Anglo-American repertoire’ means the shares of works
where the writer/creator is:
•A member of one of the following performing right societies: APRA, ASCAP, BMI,
IMRO, PRS, SAMRO, SESAC, SOCAN or is not a member of any performing right
society; and
•A member of one of the following mechanical right societies: MCPS, AMCOS,
SARRAL, FOX or CMRRA or is not a member of any mechanical right society.
Should your repertoire withdrawal be different to the above, you will need to
contact your Account Manager who will advise you on any action required.
Set up process stage 3D and 4D
Confirmation of withdrawal and re-structure
You will need to supply your Account Manager with written confirmation that you have
withdrawn from any sub-publishing networks for online usage and have re-structured
your agreements accordingly.
This will need to be confirmed in writing via e-mail or post and should include the
following information for our records:
•The date you confirmed the withdrawal or re-structuring with your sub-publisher
or society;
•How you confirmed this (by e-mail, letter, etc);
•The name of the person you contacted;
•Whether any acknowledgement of your request was received.
Multi-territory services and local services in the UK and Republic of Ireland
As you are appointing MCPS as your sole agent for multi-territory services and local
services in the UK and Republic of Ireland, you will need to withdraw your AngloAmerican repertoire for online usage in these services, either (i) from your overseas
collecting society where you are a direct member; or (ii) from your overseas subpublisher where you have a sub-publishing network.
Local services outside the UK and Republic of Ireland
As you are appointing MCPS as your non-exclusive agent for local services outside the
UK and Republic of Ireland, you have the following options:
(i) Where you have an overseas sub-publisher, you can choose to:
•withdraw your Anglo-American repertoire for online usage in these services from your
sub-publisher; or
•vary your arrangements with your sub-publisher so they administer your Anglo-American
repertoire for online usage in these services on a non-exclusive basis; or
(ii) Where you are a direct member of an overseas collecting society, you can choose to:
•withdraw your Anglo-American repertoire for online usage in these services from your
collecting society or, only where permitted, vary your membership agreement with
your collecting society so they administer your Anglo-American repertoire for online
usage in these services on a non-exclusive basis.
Set up process stage 5E and 3E
Distribution file formatting
It may be necessary for you to adapt or make some small amendments to your
files in order to allow them to align with the required CRD4+ distribution file
format.
We have included a template CRD4+ template on your USB that you can use. We
have also included a full breakdown of CRD4+ file format, with guidance on the
information required in each field within the ‘Distribution of Electronic Media –
CRD+’.
As always, your Account Manager will be on hand to talk you through this process
if needed.
Payment details
To enable us to make distribution payments to you, we will require your bank
details as early as possible.
You will need to confirm statement and payment details for a D&M PEL only record,
as payment and statement details may vary from standard records, and you will be
required to fill in the details in the ‘Address/Bank detail notification form’ (a
copy of which is shown below). This form is available as a blank template for you
to complete and return to us on your USB.
Should you have any questions when completing this form, please do not hesitate
to contact your dedicated Account Manager who will be happy to talk you through
this.
Address/Bank Detail
Address/Bank
detail Notification
Form
Notification
Form
Member Name:
* Signed:
* Please note: This form will not be accepted if it is not signed by the member named above
Address Details
Address (to be used for statementing purposes):
Line 1:
Line 2:
Line 3:
Postcode:
VAT Number:
Telephone:
Email:
Contact Name:
Do you manage your own FTP site?
Yes
No
If Yes, please provide the following details:
FTP Address:
Login:
Password:
Bank Details
Name of bank/building society:
Branch:
Name in which account is held:
Please note, if you have a foreign bank account, you will need to contact the IMPEL team to provide details of the
country in which the account is held. The relevant Citibank mandate form will then be sent to for completion.
After completing, please return to:
IMPEL Team, Copyright House, 29-33 Berners Street, London, W1T 3AB
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Royalty distribution and payments
Distributions are made at least four times per year.
Our current timetable is below:
Performance
Date
Jan Feb
Distribution
Date
Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
October
December
April
July
Statements
Your statements will be sent electronically in a PDF version. A sample statement is
included in our USB with information on what each part of the statement means.
You will also be sent the supporting information in respect of your statement detail.
During your set up meetings IMPEL will discuss the various sample options
available to you and explain what information is included.
Licensing Information
Pan-European licensing
PRS For Music has Pan-European licensing deals in place with all key players in the
market. Covering download services such as iTunes, Amazon and Google play, as
well as a wide range of streaming services such as Spotify, Deezer, Rdio, Google All
Access and Microsoft Xbox Music. Furthermore, PRS For Music was the first
European collecting society to enter into a licensing agreement with YouTube.
As a new IMPEL publishing member, your Anglo-American repertoire will flow into
the existing range of PRS For Music’s pan-European licensing deals.
While many of these deals are signed under non disclosure agreements we will do
our upmost to give you regular updates and market intelligence.
Licensing beyond European borders
With DSPs starting to venture into new and developing markets beyond Europe
(such as the Middle East and North Africa), PRS For Music offers multi-territory
licensing solutions to the market. For example, PRS For Music has concluded multiterritory licence agreements with YouTube and Google play covering 120+
territories across the globe