Within Setlists
Do Cover Gigs Pay The Right Writers?
Cover gigs can pay the original writers, but only if the songs performed are identified clearly enough to match the right works.
On this page
- Why performers and paid writers can be different people
- Where cover credits and song titles go wrong
- How setlists protect writers who are not on stage
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Introduction
Cover gigs can generate money for songwriters even when the people on stage did not write a single song being performed. That is one of the most important reasons accurate setlists matter. Public-performance royalties are paid for the underlying composition, not just for the performer delivering it. If a band plays twenty famous songs written by other people, the royalty system needs a reliable record of exactly which works were performed so that the correct writers and publishers can be identified and paid. [PRS for Music]WikipediaPRS for MusicPRS represents their songwriter, composer and music publisher members… PRS for Music licenses and collects royalties f…
When setlists are incomplete, inaccurate or missing altogether, the link between the performance and the songwriter can break. In some cases royalties may be delayed, remain unmatched, or enter pools of unallocated income that are later distributed using broader methods rather than being tied directly to the songs actually played. [The Guardian]theguardian.comAlthough PRS collects a share of ticket sales for royalty distribution, performances without identifiable setlists result in unallocated…
Why Performers and Paid Writers Can Be Different People
A common misunderstanding is that live-performance royalties belong to the act on stage. In reality, public-performance royalties are primarily tied to the composition and its copyright owners. A cover band performing songs by other writers may earn its performance fee from the venue, but the songwriting royalties generated by those performances belong to the writers and publishers of the songs being covered. [PRS for Music]WikipediaPRS for MusicPRS represents their songwriter, composer and music publisher members… PRS for Music licenses and collects royalties f…
This distinction becomes especially important in the cover-music world. A local band playing classics by multiple artists during a pub residency might perform works written by dozens of different songwriters in a single evening. The audience sees one act, but the royalty system sees many separate copyrighted works, each with its own ownership information. To distribute royalties correctly, collecting societies must know exactly which compositions were played. [PRS for Music]WikipediaPRS for MusicPRS represents their songwriter, composer and music publisher members… PRS for Music licenses and collects royalties f…
The mechanism is straightforward:
- A venue or promoter pays for music licensing.
- The performance generates royalty value.
- The songs performed must be identified.
- The works are matched to registered songwriters and publishers.
- Royalties are distributed to the appropriate rightsholders.
Without step three, the remaining steps become far more difficult. [PRS for Music]WikipediaPRS for MusicPRS represents their songwriter, composer and music publisher members… PRS for Music licenses and collects royalties f…
Where Cover Credits and Song Titles Go Wrong
Cover performances create matching problems that original-song performances often avoid. The biggest issue is that audiences usually know songs by their most famous recording artist rather than by the songwriters who own the composition rights.
For example, a performer might submit a setlist using a recording artist’s name instead of the song title, use an abbreviated title, misspell a work, or list a medley without identifying the individual songs included. Each error makes automated matching more difficult. Collecting societies depend on accurate work identification because many songs share similar names or have multiple versions and arrangements. [Guitar Girl Magazine]guitargirlmag.comsocan muzooka collaborate streamline live show reporting artistsThis new technology from Muzooka enables venues…
Common failure points include:
- Using a nickname instead of the official song title.
- Listing only the recording artist.
- Omitting songs played in encores.
- Forgetting medley components.
- Confusing different songs with the same title.
- Leaving out guest appearances or spontaneous covers added during the show.
These mistakes may seem minor from a performer’s perspective, but they can prevent a performance from being linked to the correct work registration. The more cover-heavy the set, the greater the risk that multiple writers are affected by a single inaccurate report. [SOCAN]socan.comSOCANConcerts with no Set List.How to check if you have concert royalties waiting for you. After logging into your SOCAN account, select…
How Setlists Protect Writers Who Are Not on Stage
The songwriter who benefits from a cover performance may have no relationship with the venue, promoter or performing act. They may not even know the performance occurred. Their ability to receive payment depends largely on performance data reaching the collecting society in a usable form. [SOCAN]socan.comSOCANResource CentreSOCAN pays royalties to SOCAN songwriter, composer and publisher members for the use of their songs. This means that…
This is why setlists function as more than administrative paperwork. They act as evidence that a specific composition was publicly performed. Once that evidence exists, societies such as PRS for Music, BMI and SOCAN can attempt to match the performance to registered works and distribute royalties accordingly. [PRS for Music]WikipediaPRS for MusicPRS represents their songwriter, composer and music publisher members… PRS for Music licenses and collects royalties f… [BMI.com]bmi.comLive Concert RoyaltiesBMIBMI will pay royalties to both writers and publishers via direct deposit. The distribution from BMI Live will be made quarterly; updat…
The stakes are particularly high for writers whose catalogues are widely covered. A songwriter may receive royalty income from hundreds of performances by tribute acts, wedding bands, pub musicians, cruise entertainers and festival performers. No individual payment may be large, but collectively they can become a meaningful income stream. Accurate setlists ensure those performances are counted rather than disappearing into reporting gaps. [Making Music]makingmusic.org.ukMaking MusicWhat is PRS for MusicPRS for Music is the UK organisation that ensures composers and music publishers receive royalties when…
What Happens When the Setlist Is Missing?
A missing setlist does not necessarily mean the licensing money disappears, but it can mean the royalty system cannot confidently determine who should receive it. Some collecting societies maintain processes for identifying performances that lack complete reporting and encourage members to help match them with the correct repertoire. SOCAN, for example, specifically provides a process for identifying concerts where no setlist was available. [SOCAN]socan.comSOCANConcerts with no Set List.How to check if you have concert royalties waiting for you. After logging into your SOCAN account, select…
The broader problem has attracted attention because unmatched live-performance income can accumulate when songs cannot be identified. Reporting has highlighted concerns about large numbers of performances for which collecting societies lacked sufficient setlist information to allocate royalties directly to the relevant songwriters. [The Guardian]theguardian.comAlthough PRS collects a share of ticket sales for royalty distribution, performances without identifiable setlists result in unallocated…
For cover songs, this issue is especially significant because the writers are often absent from the venue and entirely dependent on accurate reporting. If nobody records what was played, the songwriter has little practical way to prove that their work generated value on that night.
Why Accurate Setlists Matter More for Cover Repertoire Than Original Material
An artist performing only original songs usually has a direct incentive to report those performances because the songwriter and performer are often the same person. Cover performances separate those roles.
That separation creates a dependency chain:
- The performer must identify the songs correctly.
- The venue or promoter must maintain appropriate records.
- The collecting society must match the reported works.
- The songwriter must be identifiable within the repertoire database.
Accurate setlists keep that chain intact. They ensure that a songwriter who never stepped onto the stage can still be recognised as the creator whose work attracted an audience and generated royalty value. In the live-music ecosystem, that simple record of what was played is often the difference between a songwriter being paid and a performance becoming impossible to attribute. [Royalty Exchange]royaltyexchange.comRoyalty ExchangePerformance Royalties: Guide for Songwriters & Investors3 Apr 2026 — Every public performance of any version triggers a r… [PRS for Music]WikipediaPRS for MusicPRS represents their songwriter, composer and music publisher members… PRS for Music licenses and collects royalties f… [BMI.com]bmi.comFAQs BMI LiveBMI Live is an Online Services application that allows performing songwriters to submit their live performance information a…
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Further Reading
Books and field guides related to Do Cover Gigs Pay The Right Writers?. Use these as the next step if you want deeper reading beyond the article.
All You Need to Know About the Music Business
Covers publishing rights behind cover performances.
How to make it in the new music business
First published 2017. Subjects: Music trade, Popular music, Music, Vocational guidance, Economic aspects.
The plain and simple guide to music publishing
First published 2005. Subjects: Copyright, Economic aspects of Music, Music publishing, Music, Economic aspects.
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Endnotes
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SOCANConcerts with no Set List.How to check if you have concert royalties waiting for you. After logging into your SOCAN account, select...
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Source: socan.com
Link: https://www.socan.com/resource-centre/Source snippet
SOCANResource CentreSOCAN pays royalties to SOCAN songwriter, composer and publisher members for the use of their songs. This means that...
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Title: Live Concert Royalties
Link: https://www.bmi.com/creators/royalty/live_concert_royaltiesSource snippet
BMIBMI will pay royalties to both writers and publishers via direct deposit. The distribution from BMI Live will be made quarterly; updat...
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Source: bmi.com
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FAQs BMI LiveBMI Live is an Online Services application that allows performing songwriters to submit their live performance information a...
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Title: royalty policy manual
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BMI Royalty Policy Manual18 Aug 2025 — BMI considers payments to songwriters or composers and to publishers as a single unit equal to 200...
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Source: bmi.com
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BMI LiveYes, you should include cover songs. However, only cover songs within the BMI Live database will be eligible for royalty payments...
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Source: bmi.com
Link: https://www.bmi.com/licensing -
Source: bmi.com
Link: https://www.bmi.com/Source snippet
BMI | BMI.comBMI represents performance rights while Songwriters, Composers and Music... BMI pays music royalties to creators when their...
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Title: This money goes to you (the songwriter) and your publisher.Read more
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A Guide to BMI Music Royalty for Independent ArtistsDec 13, 2025 — They collect performance royalties whenever your composition is perfor...
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Unlock bmi music royalties: A Clear Guide to Earnings29 Jan 2026 — Learn how bmi music royalties are calculated, collected, and paid acro...
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PRS for MusicPRS and MCPS: Who does what?PRS pay royalties to our members when their works are: broadcast on TV or radio; performed or pl...
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Royalty ExchangePerformance Royalties: Guide for Songwriters & Investors3 Apr 2026 — Every [public performance]({{ 'public-play/' | relative_url }}) of any version triggers a r...
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Source: theguardian.com
Link: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jul/04/songwriters-royalties-uk-gigs-prs-for-musicSource snippet
Although PRS collects a share of ticket sales for royalty distribution, performances without identifiable setlists result in unallocated...
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Source: makingmusic.org.uk
Link: https://www.makingmusic.org.uk/resource/what-is-prs-for-musicSource snippet
Making MusicWhat is PRS for MusicPRS for Music is the UK organisation that ensures composers and music publishers receive royalties when...
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Link: https://www.prsformusic.com/royalties/report-live-performancesSource snippet
PRS for MusicReporting live performances - RoyaltiesIf members play at a small licensed venue that is licensed under our Gigs and Clubs s...
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Link: https://www.prsformusic.com/licencesSource snippet
Find a licenceWe represent members by securing their royalties and paying them whenever their music is performed, broadcast, streamed, do...
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PRS for MusicPRS for Music: royalties, music copyright and licensingWe protect the value of music by licensing music usage and collecting...
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Title: socan muzooka collaborate streamline live show reporting artists
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This new technology from Muzooka enables venues...
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Title: how to understanding [publishing]({{ ‘publishing/’ | relative_url }}) rights
Link: https://www.prsformusic.com/m-magazine/how-to/how-to-understanding-publishing-rightsSource snippet
How to... understanding publishing rights14 May 2021 — As an emerging artist there are three main ways you'll generate income from your p...
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How copyright worksCopyrighting your work. There is no official method to copyright work in the UK. However, evidence of creation and own...
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JoinPRS represents performing rights and collects royalties for the performance of its members' work. MCPS represents mechanical rights a...
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Reporting live performances terms and conditionsMembers of the Performing Right Society Limited (“PRS”) can report their live performance...
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What we doWe collect and pay royalties when a member's music is played in public, broadcast, downloaded, streamed, or performed live both...
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How They Work, What's Collected, and...27 Apr 2026 — If you have a catalog earning BMI performance royalties, you can sell a portion of...
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Title: SOCA N Setlist Reporting
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SOCAN Setlist Reporting - Submit & Collect with MuzookaSubmit your live setlist performance directly to SOCAN using Muzooka's automated r...
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Title: prs for music and the [grassroots]({{ ‘grassroots/’ | relative_url }})
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FOR MUSIC AND THE GRASSROOTS SECTOREvery time a band plays a live show at a grassroots music venue in the UK, the venue pays a licence fe...
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Don't...Under 'Set Lists & Performances', you can view all your registered setlists once they have been accepted by SOCAN. Now that we h...
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PRS for MusicPRS for Music is a world-leading music collective management organisation representing the rights of more than 175,000 songw...
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PRS for MusicPRS represents their songwriter, composer and music publisher members... PRS for Music licenses and collects royalties f...
Additional References
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The claim, filed at the competition appeal tribunal, argues that the PRS's distribution of "black box" income—royalties that cannot be al...
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Link: https://unitesync.com/en/blog/understanding-live-performance-royalties-how-music-royalties-work-for-performancesSource snippet
Understanding Live Performance Royalties: How Music...31 Mar 2025 — A: BMI Live is a service provided by BMI that allows songwriters and...
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Source: reddit.com
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/musicbusiness/comments/1d66ogc/submit_your_setlists_from_live_shows_to_get/Source snippet
The songs don't need to be recorded or released yet and it pays roughly $1-$2+ per original song...Read more...
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Link: https://www.theunsignedguide.com/blog/689-all-you-need-to-know-about-prs-for-music-music-royalties-and-songwriting-rightsSource snippet
Its members are songwriters, composers and music publishers. Its customers are music users.Read more...
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Source: ivorsacademy.com
Title: whats the difference between writers share and publishers share
Link: https://ivorsacademy.com/faq/whats-the-difference-between-writers-share-and-publishers-share/Source snippet
What's the difference between writer's share and...9 Jul 2025 — The music industry operates on a fundamental principle that performing r...
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Source: musiciansunion.org.uk
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million a year for musicians for the secondary and further use of recordings.Read more...
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Title: BM I Royalties and Their Impact on Music Careers
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BMI Royalties and Their Impact on Music Careers - AMW Group18 Sept 2025 — BMI estimates that live performance royalties account for appro...
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Title: how to report live performances to prs for music
Link: https://musiciansunion.org.uk/working-performing/gigs-and-live-performances/how-to-report-live-performances-to-prs-for-musicSource snippet
8 Dec 2023 — Venues/promoters pay a set licence fee (currently £12.40) per show under this scheme, and this is shared between all the wor...
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Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/musicians/comments/1cv2n54/if_you_play_original_music_live_you_should_be/Source snippet
PRO for royalties. The songs don't need to be recorded or released yet...
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Title: bmi and ascap music licensing for businesses
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ASCAP & BMI Music Licensing Guide for Businesses3 Mar 2026 — These organizations issue “music licenses” that grant the right to publicly...
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