# MVT Study Finds 21% Live Music Registered

> MVT pilot study shows only 21 per cent of live music from grassroots venues is registered repertoire amid battle for fairer PRS payments.
- Title: MVT Study Finds 21% Live Music Registered · NME | Shortify
- Summary: MVT pilot study shows only 21 per cent of live music from grassroots venues is registered repertoire amid battle for fairer PRS payments. A Music Venue Trust…
- Keywords: music venue trust, prs for music, grassroots venues, royalty distribution, mvt pilot study, 21 per cent, live music, registered repertoire, audoo technology, set the record straight, music, culture
- Source: NME — https://nme.com/news/music/mvt-pilot-study-shows-only-21-per-cent-of-live-music-from-grassroots-venues-is-registered-repertoire-amidst-battle-for-fairer-prs-payments-3973215
- Published: 2026-10-15T11:53:17+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: music venue trust, prs for music, grassroots venues, royalty distribution, mvt pilot study, 21 per cent, live music, registered repertoire, audoo technology, set the record straight, music, culture
## MVT Pilot Study
A Music Venue Trust pilot study found only 21 per cent of live music from grassroots venues is registered with PRS For Music.
## Study Collaboration
The study was conducted with Audoo, a company that monitors royalty distribution using audio technology.
## Data Collection Period
The study ran between August and September 2026 to track live music performances across grassroots venues.
## Key Findings
Across 623 hours of live audio, 134 hours (21 per cent) matched registered songs with PRS For Music.
## Performance Statistics
2,238 live performances were recorded, including 23 tribute bands with over 380 songs.
## Songwriter Impact
Songwriters like James Walsh and Ben Ottewell performed their own material during the study period.
## September Data
In September alone, 1,190 different songs were recorded with 87 per cent only heard once.
## PRS Response
PRS For Music says technology has not yet proven reliable for identifying live performances in grassroots venues.
## Next Steps
MVT and Audoo will run a larger study from October to December 2026 to improve royalty distribution.
## Key takeaway

A Music Venue Trust pilot study found 21 per cent of live music in grassroots venues is registered with PRS For Music, highlighting gaps in royalty distribution.