Class action case against PRS for Music rejected
The collective action, headed by Blur drummer Dave Rowntree, alleged the UK performance rights organisation misallocates ‘black box’ income
News By James Hanley | 29 August 2025
A class action against PRS for Music has been rejected by the Competition Appeal Tribunal. The collective action, headed by Blur drummer Dave Rowntree, was launched against PRS on behalf of its writer members in April last year, claiming that the UK performance rights organisation misallocates ‘black box’ income.
It alleged that PRS, which represents the rights of more than 175,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers, was violating UK and EU competition rules because it unfairly distributes so-called ‘black box’…