Referring to your article of 5 May (Royalties revisited as PRS start over afresh) we wish to clarify some points. Once again we would like to reiterate that there are no unpaid royalties owed to Maltese songwriters for the past – all royalties PRS for Music have collected in Malta that could be identified from the data available to PRS, have been paid to our local members. PRS for Music has also never promised members specific amounts of money; a supplementary payment was discussed and agreed with a representative group of Maltese members as a one-off means of addressing issues concerning unlogged and unlicensed music use in Malta from 2000 - 2007. It was subsequently communicated to the whole Maltese membership and claims were made and paid.
Martin Pursey has not taken over from Kevin Dingli as the PRS for Music Malta based agent but is operating in a membership representative capacity within the country. Kevin Dingli continues to work on behalf of PRS for Music to ensure music users in Malta are licensed and royalties are collected.
In relation to the comments of David Vella (who is not a member of PRS for Music) we have always stated that, if the majority of the Maltese membership did want their own society we would be quite prepared to help them achieve this as we have done in other countries. However, as stated before we are proud to represent the Maltese writing, composing and music publishing community and will continue to do so as long as this remains the will of the majority of our members in Malta.
On another note we would like to thank all of those who attended our inaugural Malta Music Showcase on the 4th at Hard Rock Café and made it a full house We look forward to the next event to be announced soon.
Barney Hooper,
Head of Public Relations,
PRS for Music
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