Can you sell music royalties in the UK?

Yes, you can sell your music royalties in the UK. UK songwriters and artists have the legal right to sell all or part of their songwriter's share for a lump sum. It's a normal commercial transaction — like selling a rental property. The paperwork is short, the tax treatment is straightforward, and you can do it without a lawyer if you want to.

What exactly are you selling?

You're selling the songwriter's royalty share — the money the song earns from streams, radio, sync, and public performance. You're not selling the recording (that belongs to the label or distributor), you're not selling your artist name, and you're not selling your right to perform the song live. You're selling a future income stream.

How does a lump-sum sale work in the UK?

The buyer values the song based on its annual earnings and pays you a one-off cash figure — typically 5x to 12x annual net revenue. You sign a short assignment contract, the buyer takes over collection from PRS and your distributor, and the money hits your bank within 24 hours. From that point on, the buyer collects the royalties you sold.

What changes for the writer after a sale?

You stop receiving the share of royalties you sold. That's it. You keep your PRS membership, your writer credit stays on the song forever, and you can still perform, re-record, and license the song for new projects. If you sold 100%, all future royalties from the sold work go to the buyer. If you sold 75% (our active-catalogue option), you keep collecting 25% for life.

Is there tax on the sale?

In the UK, a lump-sum royalty sale is normally treated as a capital disposal, which usually attracts a lower rate than income tax. Your accountant will know the specifics for your situation. Most sellers use the lump sum to clear debts, put down a house deposit, or fund the next record — the money is yours to do what you want with.

Is this the same as selling to a major publisher?

No. Major publishers usually do publishing deals — you sign your work to them and they take a cut of everything for years. A lump-sum sale is different: it's a one-time transaction, done in days not months, and you don't get bound into a long-term publishing relationship. Nothing else in your career changes.

Related reading

• How much is a song worth?
• Lump sum vs monthly royalties: which is right for you?
• Full FAQ · How the process works