1. Purpose and scope
This Policy explains how Mirat Cultural Rights Limited (Mirat) handles royalties and other music-related income received on members’ behalf. It applies to publishing, recording/mastering, digital distribution, performer/neighbouring rights, and direct-licensing income administered under a valid Rights Mandate. This Policy forms part of the Mirat Membership Agreement. The current Fee Schedule sets the applicable administration rates, payment threshold and any permitted third-party charges. If there is a conflict, the Membership Agreement prevails, followed by this Policy, unless applicable law requires otherwise.
2. Core principles
Accuracy: income is allocated using the most reliable available usage, repertoire, ownership, and payment data. Transparency: statements identify the source, period, repertoire, gross amount, deductions, and net amount where available. Equal treatment: equivalent transactions are handled consistently, subject to differences in contractual, territorial, currency, and source data. Separation: member income is recorded separately from Mirat’s operating income in Mirat’s accounting records. Correction: errors and late or revised data may be corrected in later statements and payment cycles.
3. Receipt and identification of income
Mirat may receive income directly or through collecting societies, publishers, distributors, digital services, licensees, neighbouring rights organisations, or other authorised partners. Mirat records the source, currency, reporting period and available usage or repertoire data.
Mirat matches income using identifiers and metadata such as member number, IPI/CAE, ISWC, ISRC, title, artist name, contributor credits, ownership shares, territory, usage period, and release information. Members must provide complete and accurate information promptly. Missing or conflicting data can delay allocation.
4. Allocation rules
Mirat identifies the relevant work, recording, performance or licence from the available source data. Mirat applies the ownership or entitlement shares valid for the relevant usage and accounting period. Mirat allocates only the rights and shares covered by the member’s Rights Mandate. Where a payer supplies corrected data, clawbacks or supplementary income, Mirat applies the correction to the relevant member account. Where information is insufficient or disputed, Mirat places the amount on hold until it can be allocated reliably.
5. Deductions and net distributable amount
Mirat calculates the amount payable to a member based on income actually received and cleared by Mirat. Depending on the source and the member’s selected services, deductions may include: the Mirat administration fee stated in the Fee Schedule; withholding tax, VAT or other tax required by law; third-party fees or charges permitted by the Membership Agreement or Fee Schedule; bank, payment-provider or currency-conversion charges attributable to the payment; refunds, chargebacks, overpayments, duplicate payments and earlier statement corrections; and amounts that Mirat is legally required to freeze, withhold or return. Mirat does not charge a joining fee or annual membership fee. Mirat charges an administration fee only when it successfully collects income. Part of Mirat’s administration fee is reinvested annually to support grants for Kurdish music creators.
6. Statements and payment cycles
Mirat issues royalty statements and makes distributions according to the payment cycle published in the Fee Schedule or member portal. A statement may be issued without payment where the balance is below the payment threshold, payment information is incomplete, or the account is subject to a lawful or reasonable hold. Balances below the payment threshold roll forward without loss until the threshold is reached or the membership ends. On termination, Mirat may make a final payment after deducting permitted charges, subject to verification, existing licences, later receipts and adjustments.
7. Currency conversion
Income may be received in different currencies. Mirat may convert income into the member’s payment currency using the exchange rate applied by Mirat’s bank, payment provider, accounting system or the paying organisation. The statement will show the original currency or conversion information where reasonably available. Mirat does not profit from exchange-rate movements, although it may deduct external conversion charges where permitted.
8. Tax and payment information
Members are responsible for providing accurate legal name, residential or registered address, tax residence, taxpayer information and payment details. Mirat may require tax forms or proof of identity before payment. Mirat may deduct or report tax where required by law and does not provide individual tax advice.
9. Unmatched, disputed and suspended amounts
Mirat may hold income where the rightsholder, repertoire, entitlement share, or payment destination cannot be verified, or where there is an ownership dispute, a competing claim, a fraud concern, a sanctions issue, a court order, or a legal restriction. Held amounts are not treated as Mirat’s distributable operating income. Mirat will use reasonable measures proportionate to the available information to identify and locate entitled rightsholders. A member claiming held income must supply the evidence reasonably requested. Mirat will not decide complex ownership disputes that require agreement between claimants or determination by a court or competent authority.
10. Reserves and risk adjustments
Where reasonably necessary, Mirat may maintain a proportionate reserve against expected refunds, chargebacks, fraud, disputed ownership, source corrections or other identifiable liabilities. Any reserve must be documented, reviewed periodically and released when the relevant risk has ended.
11. Corrections, overpayments and recovery
Members should review statements promptly and notify Mirat of any suspected errors, providing supporting information. Mirat may correct underpayments in a later cycle. If a member is overpaid, Mirat may offset the amount against future distributions or request repayment. Mirat will provide an explanation of a material correction where reasonably possible.
12. Records and member access
Mirat keeps accounting and repertoire records for the period required by applicable law and its retention schedule. Members may request reasonable information about their own statements, allocations, and deductions, subject to confidentiality, data protection duties, and third-party contractual restrictions.
13. Complaints and disputes
Send questions about a statement to join@mirat.co.uk with the member ID, statement period, relevant work or recording, disputed amount, and supporting evidence. Send formal complaints to complaints@mirat.co.uk, and Mirat will handle them in accordance with the Complaints and Dispute Resolution Policy.
14. Changes to this Policy
Mirat may update this Policy to reflect legal, regulatory, operational or partner requirements. Mirat will notify you of material changes in accordance with the Membership Agreement. Changes will not retrospectively alter a member’s ownership or entitlement to income already earned.
15. Governing framework This Policy is governed by the law specified in the Mirat Membership Agreement. Mirat will administer and distribute income in accordance with applicable UK law and the obligations that apply to its activities and regulatory classification.