MCPS enhances operating model to strengthen services and further grow member revenues

MCPS is introducing a new operating model that will give greater oversight of its services and create new opportunities to grow mechanical royalty revenues for its 47,000 members. 

Announced on Thursday 24th September at the MCPS Annual Rightsholder Meeting, the new model will see MCPS work directly with an expanded network of specialist partners from early 2027. 

The changes are designed to strengthen how MCPS protects rights, licenses repertoire, collects revenues and distributes mechanical royalties on behalf of its composer, songwriter, lyricist and music publisher members. They will also give MCPS a more direct role in major licensing negotiations. 

Building on a decade of growth

The enhanced model follows a comprehensive review of how we operate, work with partners and serve its members. 

It builds on a decade of significant growth. Annual distributions increased from £140.1 million in 2015 to £219.9 million in 2025, while MCPS membership grew from around 23,000 to 47,000 over the same period. 

Since 2000, MCPS has distributed more than £4.8 billion in mechanical royalties to rightsholders. 

An expanded network of specialist partners

Under the new model, MCPS will contract directly with ICE Services, the global digital music licensing and processing hub established by GEMA in Germany, PRS for Music in the UK and STIM in Sweden. 

ICE Services will provide multi-territory online licensing for streaming, downloads and AI platforms, alongside copyright services for MCPS’s new partners. This will help MCPS maximise the territorial scope of digital licensing agreements for the repertoire it is mandated to represent. 

MCPS will also partner with the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) on international licensing and collections. The organisations will work together to review reciprocal agreements and maintain an up-to-date picture of rights mandates, with the aim of increasing the value of international collections. 

For members who mandate their sync rights to MCPS, Swedish platform MAIA Universe will provide automated licensing services for uses including advertising, film and video games. 

MCPS will run an initial pilot with MAIA Universe in early 2027, ahead of a wider rollout later in the year. Participation will remain optional for members, and MCPS will continue to provide a direct sync licensing service for repertoire that is not made available through the platform. 

MCPS will also take direct responsibility for Production Music Rate Card licensing, covering non-commercially released music used within television, film and advertising. This service will be delivered through a new portal and will include MCPS liaising directly with licensees. 

Continuing a strategic partnership with PRS for Music

PRS for Music will remain a core strategic partner to MCPS, continuing a relationship spanning 30 years. 

MCPS and PRS will jointly negotiate major mechanical and performance licensing agreements across General Entertainment Online Licensing, broadcast, UK online and gaming. The two organisations will also continue to collaborate on mechanical-only licensing. 

PRS will continue to provide member services and royalty distributions, alongside licensing, usage processing, invoicing and collections across several MCPS revenue streams. 

Day-to-day copyright and agreement registrations and amendments, mandate queries and distribution queries will continue to be managed through PRS. 

The enhanced operating model will also be supported by an expanded MCPS team, improved processes for resolving member and licensee queries, and stronger reporting across MCPS’s operations. 

What happens next?

There will be no immediate change for MCPS members, licensees or affiliate societies, who should continue to operate as normal throughout 2026. 

MCPS will confirm the transition date later this year and provide further information before the enhanced operating model takes effect in early 2027. Additional enhancements will follow during the year.