PPL and PRS For Music have confirmed details of their new joint venture and a new Leicester office, which will open in the second half of 2017, in a conversation with Music Week.
The joint venture will see the two companies work together on the licensing and all related activities of their public performance licensees.
As part of the deal, the companies are opening a new office for the JV in Leicester next year, which will provide space for approximately 200 staff. New systems will also be put in place to streamline licensing processes for its customers.
PRS For Music commercial director Paul Clements told Music Week: “The JV is being created to respond positively to the market’s requirements to have a simplified licensing process. Both companies have previously licensed customers individually, despite the fact that customers consider that when they are using music they only need one license.”
Meanwhile, PPL chief executive Peter Leathem (pictured) explained the rationale behind the move to Leicester and the benefits it will bring to the JV.
“When we decided to bring the businesses together, we knew we would need to find a joint location, as we obviously have separate offices at the moment. The reason we chose Leicester is because it provides us with a whole mixture of benefits. These include the available talent pool, the cost of property, the cost of staff, the links to local universities, transport links to the rest of the country and transport links to London, where our parent companies will still be operating from.
“The total number of jobs that come with the JV will be about 200. But there are lots of jobs and activities that will stay in the existing parent companies. It’s only the public performances encompassed by the JV that will be located in Leicester.”
Both companies will soon begin a consultation process with existing staff to discuss the options available to them regarding relocation and the allocation of new roles. Further details on exactly when the move is likely to take place are expected early next year.
