The PRS for Music works database is publicly searchable and lets you verify whether a song is registered, who holds the publishing rights, and what tunecode PRS has assigned to it. Knowing how to use it protects your royalties before and after release.
What the PRS database is
The PRS for Music works database is a searchable registry of every musical work registered with PRS. It records the work title, ISWC (International Standard Work Code), tunecode (PRS's own internal identifier), the registered writers, publisher assignments, and territorial rights splits. The database is the source of truth PRS uses when matching reported usages to registered works - if your song is not in it, PRS cannot route royalties to you even when your music is broadcast or streamed.
How to search the PRS database
The PRS repertoire search is available at prsformusic.com without logging in. To find a registered work:
- Go to prsformusic.com and navigate to the repertoire search tool.
- Search by song title, artist name, writer name, or tunecode.
- Filter results by category (song, classical, dramatic) if the title is common.
- Click through to the work record to see the full registration detail: writers, publishers, IPI numbers, ISWC, and tunecode.
- If you are a PRS member, log in first - members see additional detail including their own split percentages and any pending disputes.
What a tunecode is and why it matters
Every work registered with PRS is assigned a tunecode - a unique alphanumeric identifier specific to the PRS system. The tunecode is different from the ISWC (the international standard) and from the ISRC (which identifies recordings, not compositions). PRS uses the tunecode internally to route royalties from broadcasters and platforms to the correct registered work. When you see a payment breakdown in your PRS account, the tunecode links the usage event to your specific work record. Knowing your tunecodes lets you cross-reference payment statements against registered works and spot if a usage has been matched to the wrong title.
What to do if a work is missing from the database
If a search returns no result for a work you believe is registered, check these common causes before contacting PRS:
- Title variation: PRS may have registered the work under a slightly different spelling, featuring credit, or subtitle. Try searching by writer name instead of title.
- New registration lag: works recently registered may take several weeks to appear in the public search results while being processed.
- Publisher hold: if you registered via a publisher or publishing administrator, the work may show the publisher's name rather than yours. The work is registered - you just need to search by publisher or writer name.
- Not yet registered: if no result appears under any search variant, the work may not have been submitted. Log into your PRS member portal and register it directly, or have your publishing administrator do so.
Checking publisher assignments
The database shows which publisher is assigned to each work. If you have a publishing administration agreement, your administrator's name should appear alongside your writer credit. If you see an unexpected publisher listed - or your own name as publisher when you assigned rights elsewhere - contact PRS member services to investigate. Errors in publisher assignments mean royalties are routed to the wrong party and can take several distribution cycles to correct.
If you have works that are unregistered, mis-registered, or showing unexpected publisher assignments, Code Group Music's catalog assessment can audit your full catalog and correct the gaps. Start at codegroupmusic.co.uk/#catalog-assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the PRS for Music database publicly searchable?
Yes. The PRS repertoire search is free and does not require a PRS membership or login. You can search by song title, writer name, publisher, or tunecode. Members who log in see additional detail including their own split percentages.
Can I search the PRS database by ISWC?
Yes. The PRS works database accepts ISWC as a search term. Enter the full ISWC (formatted as T-XXXXXXXXX-X) in the search field to retrieve the exact work record. This is useful when you have the international code but not the PRS tunecode.
What if my song is not in the PRS database?
If your song does not appear in the PRS repertoire search, it is likely unregistered. Log into your PRS member portal to register it directly. If you have a publishing administrator, ask them to confirm registration status. Unregistered works cannot receive PRS royalties - usage events will go unmatched and the income redistributed.
Published