A performance report tells a collecting society which works were played at a specific show, so it can pay the writers of those works instead of distributing the money on an estimate.
What is on it
- The venue, the date and the promoter.
- Every title played, in order.
- The writers of each title.
- Durations, on some forms.
- Whether it was a live set or a DJ set.
Who files it
Across much of Europe the promoter or venue reports the event and pays the licence fee, and the artist supplies the setlist. In some countries the artist files directly through a member portal. Deadlines run from a few weeks to a few months after the show, and a late report is often still accepted but pays out a cycle later.
Why it is worth the effort
An artist playing 60 shows a year with its own material and reporting none of them leaves that money to be shared out by formula, mostly towards artists with more airplay.