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The Artist’s Business Method · Course map

Lesson 08 / 24 · 30–45 min + processing · preparation time

Register the music and keep the record current

Membership identifies you. Music registrations and performer links help identify which work or recording should connect to you. IPI/CAE identifies an interested party such as a writer, ISWC identifies a musical work, ISRC identifies a recording and IPN identifies a performer. Keep these distinct; not every identifier will be available at the start.

Terms in this lesson

Song / composition

The underlying music and lyrics, distinct from a particular recorded performance.

Master / recording

A specific sound recording of a song or other audio work.

Publisher / administrator

A business that represents agreed rights or handles administration under a contract. Check the exact scope.

IPI / CAE

An interested-party identifier used for writers, composers and publishers. CAE is an older name commonly encountered alongside IPI.

ISWC

An identifier for a musical work. It is different from the code for a recording.

ISRC

An identifier for a particular recording. It does not prove copyright ownership.

IPN

An international performer identifier.

Work through it

  1. 1
    Build a registration record for each song and recording: exact titles and versions, contributors, agreed shares, relevant identifiers, owner, territories and dates where requested. Follow the current official form.
  2. 2
    For PRS works, register or check the works handled for you by a publisher or administrator. Review the result and save the confirmation. Resolve conflicting details through the responsible organisation.
  3. 3
    For PPL, recording rightsholders register the relevant recordings and performer line-ups; performers check and link their contributions. Check what a label or representative already supplies.
  4. 4
    After a live performance, keep the venue, date, performer, setlist and durations. If relevant to your membership, report the performance through PRS’s live tool and retain the reference.

You are ready to move on when…

You can leave an application or outside reply pending. Record the next step before moving on.

Track / identifiers / PRS work status / PPL recording or performer-link status / reference location / gig-reporting routine

Resources for this task

Optional videos

Optional watch

PRS Get Paid Guide: codes and credits Video guides · free
Further reading · Passman chapter references

Optional reading · Passman, 11th edition. Chapters 15–16 and 20: copyright administration and registration context. UK registration routes differ.

Optional reading from the 11th edition (2023). No purchase needed. US legal context: use current UK sources for local procedures.

Keep practising. Update for each new work, recording and relevant performance; check statements when issued.

Next: Choose the listeners you can reach.

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