About the MPA
We are the voice of UK music publishing, proudly representing a vibrant & thriving music-making community.
Why we exist
The Music Publishers Association (MPA) is a non-profit organisation representing music publishers in the UK. We act on behalf of 165 members ranging from the UK’s largest and most established music publishers to independents and start-ups. These companies support our music makers and drive an extraordinary cultural and economic success story.
Our Businesses
The MPA also owns and operates 2 commercial businesses.
MCPS collects royalties and protects the rights of over 37,000 publishers, songwriters and composers when their music is copied or reproduced.
PMLL represents music publishers to allow the photocopying and arranging of sheet music as part of education and beyond.
Our History
1881
The MPA is the UK music industry’s oldest trade body. The Association was established in 1881, initially by 9 members, to protect against unlicensed copying of sheet music.
1924
Against a background of post-war economic turbulence came the first broadcasting boom, the emergence of recorded music and launch of the BBC. MCPS (Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society) was created in 1924 to collect mechanical royalties from mass-produced discs.
1940
The MPA agreed an “Anti-Plugging Agreement” with the BBC, cracking down on illicit payments between music publishers and band leaders to prioritise the broadcast of ‘favoured’ works on radio.
1951
The MPA helped promote several schemes to promote British music, including the foundation of the British Joint Copyright Council (1951) and the Ivor Novello Awards (1956).
1960
A boom era for British music. BBC Radio 1 launched and full-length albums become increasingly popular. Also working with the British Copyright Council, the MPA pressed the government to take action against pirate radio stations.
1976
The MPA acquired full ownership of MCPS in 1976.
1981
The era of Betamax vs VHS, home taping and MTV opened up new challenges and opportunities alike for the music business. The MPA published a Code of Fair Practice to offer guidelines on the photocopying of printed music, as well as a Catalogue of Printed Music on microfiche.
1996
The MPA was instrumental in setting up British Music Rights (1996) alongside the British Academy of Composers & Songwriters, the Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society and the Performing Right Society. The new umbrella body provided our sector with a single voice to communicate with politicians, media and industry and was a direct precursor of UK Music.
2010
The MPA continued to evolve in the digital age, launching the pan-European mechanical licensing body IMPEL in 2010.
2013
The MPA launched PMLL in 2013 to license the copying of printed sheet music in schools.2013 also saw the termination of the MCPS-PRS Alliance and MCPS become an autonomous operation.
2015
On 1 July 2015, Jackie Alway (VP International Legal and Industry Affairs, Universal Music Publishing) was named as the new Chair of the Music Publishers Association following elections by the MPA Board. Jackie replaced outgoing Chair Chris Butler, who had been in the role since 2008.
2016
The MPA’s three businesses – IMPEL, MCPS & PMLL – officially came together as the MPA Group of Companies. In April 2016, MCPS published a landmark Request for Proposals [RfP] to administer operations for MCPS and IMPEL.
Jane Dyball became CEO of the MPA Group of Companies.
2018
The MPA Group of Companies said goodbye to IMPEL as it became a standalone entity to focus on its independent members’ interests.
2019
After 5 years Jane Dyball stepped down as CEO of the MPA Group. Paul Clements (formally Executive Director of Membership, International & Licensing at PRS for Music) succeeded Jane on 1 February 2019.
Roberto Neri (Former Executive Vice President UK, Downtown Music Publishing) was appointed the new Chair of the MPA.
2021
MPA Group announced Paulette Long OBE (Long Term Music) as MPA Chair and Rachel Lindley (Oxford University Press) as PMLL Chair. They join Jackie Alway OBE (Universal Music Publishing Group), current MCPS Chair, as Chairs across all three MPA Group Companies.
2023
MPA awards Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber with the inaugural Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award in Musicals and Publishing.
2024
MCPS celebrates its centenary with a rebrand, special events, initiatives and more.
Our Committees
Another element of our corporate governance is our 11 Committees, each a taskforce for a specific area of activity. Our committees are comprised of members and include:
Classical Publishers Committee (CPC)
Educations & Training Committee (E&T)
Finance, Audit & Risk Committee (FARC)
Futures Group
Horizon Planning Group
Legal Issues & Anti Piracy Group (LIAPG)
Printed Music Publishers Committee (PMPC)
Production Music Strategic Forum (PMSF)
Popular Music Publishers Committee (PMPC)
Public Affairs & Governance Committee (PAGC)
Sync Action Group
We are our members
Our membership spans the depth and breadth of UK music publishing. Join your peers and add your voice.
Want to work with us?
The MPA is a passionate group of talented experts, moving our sector forwards.
