So you’ve written a banger, played it live, maybe even heard it on the radio – now let’s make sure you actually get paid for it.
For better or worse, PRS are the ones collecting money on behalf of artists like us – so we might as well figure out how to get our slice of the pie, right?
The good news is: it’s not as complicated as it looks. Their website does look like it’s powered by dial-up and built during the MySpace era, and their instructions can feel like a test of patience (and neurodivergent-friendly design is not their strong suit).
So here’s a clear, artist-first, no-bullshit step-by-step guide to actually getting paid by PRS. (And if you’d rather skip the deep dive, there’s a super quick version at the end.)
1. Join PRS (if you haven’t already)
If your songs are being played anywhere outside your bedroom – live gigs, radio, DSPs, pubs, clubs, festivals – you should be a member of PRS for Music. Join here.
There’s a one-off joining fee (£100 – or £30 for under-25s), but if you’re an active musician, you’ll earn it back fairly quickly.
2. Agree your splits before you leave the studio
If you’re co-writing with anyone, don’t wait until later to talk about who owns what – agree it now.
Write down the percentages (e.g. 25% each for a band of four) and make sure everyone registers the same info when it’s time to log the song with PRS. Future You will thank you.
3. Register your songs
Once a track’s finished, head to your PRS online account and register it using the “Register My Music” tool.
That’s how PRS knows your song exists, who wrote it, and where to send the money when it gets played.
If you don’t register it, you don’t get paid – simple as that.
Tip: Make sure your song title, co-writer details and metadata (who wrote what, what version, etc.) are all correct. That’s how your track gets matched when it’s played on radio, TV, or live.
4. Upload your music for tracking
PRS uses partner services to track when and where songs get played.
Set up accounts with these three:
Upload your songs so they can recognise them when they’re played at venues, festivals, or broadcast internationally. Think of these as your digital sniffer dogs for royalties.
5. Report your live gigs
Every time you play a show – whether that’s your local open mic or a major festival stage – report it to PRS using the “Live Performance Reporting” form in your account.
That’s how PRS knows to pay you for performing your own songs.
Do it as soon as you get home from the gig, before the post-show adrenaline crash kicks in.
6. Keep your bank details updated
Log into your PRS account and make sure your bank details are right.
Otherwise, your well-earned money could end up in royalty limbo. (Yes, that’s a thing… also, buy me a drink some time and I’ll tell you about the time my royalties got mixed up with those of an artist of the same name, but with a much higher stream count …)
7. Check your unpaid royalties
Sometimes PRS collects money for a song but doesn’t know who to pay – usually because of missing info or an unregistered work.
On your PRS dashboard, click “Check Unpaid Royalties” to see if any mystery money’s waiting for you.
8. Know when you’ll get paid
PRS pays royalties four times a year – April, July, October, and December – plus monthly streaming payouts (once your balance hits £30 if you’re in the UK, or £60 if you’re overseas).
October is the big “sweep-up” month where even the small amounts (£1 and above) get paid out.
TL;DR: The DIY Musician’s PRS Checklist
✅ Join PRS
✅ Agree song splits
✅ Register every track
✅ Upload to Soundmouse, DJ Monitor, BMAT
✅ Report all gigs
✅ Keep your bank info up to date
✅ Check for unpaid royalties
💥 Remember: being DIY doesn’t mean doing it for free. Register, report, repeat – and make sure every note you play pays you back. 💥