Music Industry Trade Organisiations

What Is It? Aim is a trade body established in 1999 to provide a collective voice for the UK’s independent Music Industry. It’s a non-profit organisation.
What Does It Do? Provides information and contacts for running a label. Offers expert advice on label business areas. Provides Legal and business affairs guidance. Opens access to international markets. Provides deals for members on key business services.
How Is It Constituted? AIM’s board is elected democratically by its members. Its regularly rotated to keep the company up to date and fresh using the full professional knowledge of its members. Members include musicians, managers, studio owners, producers and publishers.

What Is It? Committed to protecting the value of music and ensuring its members are represented.
What Does It Do? Pay royalties to it’s members when music is performed, broadcast, streamed, downloaded, reproduced or played in public, film or TV. Collect royalties through license agreements with music users such as hair dressers, shops, restaurants, live music venues etc. PRS license businesses of all sizes and types for all kinds of music.
How Is It Constituted? Founded in 1914 by a group of music publishers. Its an independent charity and a non profit organisation. Over 125,000 members. It’s made up of a board of members including a chief executive Robert Ashcroft.

What Is It? Campaigns in relation to relevant musical and industrial issues.
What Does It Do? Protect peoples rights and make sure they are compensated fairly. Offers free legal advice and representation. Career development advice. Free training, workshops and networking events. Only represents musicians. Deals with things like traveling with your instrument to intellectual property. Offer £2000 of instrument insurance, £10,000 in public liability cover, personal accident cover, help with dealing with tax authorities.
How Is It Constituted? It was formed is 1983 and has over 30,000 members to date. It is made up of trade union for musicians working in all sectors of the music industry. There are no corporate members.

What Is It? PPL exists to make sure people with talent and who invest their time and money in making music are paid fairly. It’s a non-profit organisation and does not retain any profits distributing all money to it’s record company and performer members.
What Does It Do? It Licenses certain uses of copyright sound recordings.
How Is It Constituted? Formed in 1934 by record companies, EMI and DECCA records. It’s over seen by an elected board of Directors from within the music industry and other executive management individuals with relevant experience.

What Is It? Represents the UK Music Industry and is a non-profit organisation. Principle aim is to promote music and fight copyright infringement. It’s members account for over 85% of music sold in UK.
What Does It Do? Represents the interests of British Record Companies.
How Is It Constituted? Formed in 1989. Made up of 100’s of record companies including all three major labels in the UK, Warner Music UK, Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music Group. Geoff Taylor is the chief executive.

What Is It? Professional community formed since 1992 for managers and independent managers in the UK
What Does It Do? Continually provides support to all members in order to develop their skills and create opportunities. Hold Seminars and networking opportunities for professional development. Provide legal support. Offers discount on courses and events. Produces weekly newsletters and offers mental health support for artist managers.
How Is It Constituted? Owned by its members, so any manager in UK who pays joining fee. There are two joining fees. If you are under 30 you can pay either £6 a month or £60 a year and if you are over 30 £12 per month or £120 a year. Also these types of companies, such as record companies, technology companies, record labels and publishers can also join and become members and part ‘own’ the company.

Thanks for reading this blog and I hope you find it useful and helps you along the way in your music career. Thanks Stuart

Published by Stuart Spence | Drummer | Educator