Who is ultimately liable from a licensing and royalty payment perspective for live events with a paid admission? The Musician, the Promoter or the Proprietor of the Premises?
In the context of live events with paid admission, ultimate liability for licensing and royalty payments—such as those owed to performance rights organisations (PROs) like IMRO, can depend on the specific contracts in place. However, by default (legally speaking), the primary liability typically falls on the proprietor of the premises.
That said, promoters of live events and festivals may assume liability—either explicitly through contractual agreements or implicitly when they take on full control of the event, including ticketing, production, and programming. In such cases, PROs may hold the promoter liable as the effective operator of the performance space. This is especially relevant when events are held in non-traditional venues or temporary spaces (e.g., outdoor festivals), where the promoter is the primary organising entity and not merely a tenant or service provider.