PPL appointed for neighbouring rights collections for John Lennon and Yoko Ono

15 October 2024 - Press release

 

The estate of John Lennon has appointed PPL to collect neighbouring rights royalties on all sound recordings where John Lennon or Yoko Ono are listed as a performer. This means PPL will collect broadcast and public performance royalties in markets where such rights exist for the estate’s interests in John Lennon, Yoko Ono and The Beatles.

John Lennon is one of the most revered and iconic musicians of all time and his influence and impact on our music and cultural landscape is beyond compare. Similarly, Yoko Ono is now regarded as a trailblazing multi-genre artist whose work is still being discovered and celebrated today. Together, John and Yoko became the voices of a generation through their music, art and activism.  

John Lennon released his first and seminal solo album ‘John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band’ in December 1970 featuring tracks including ‘Mother’ and ‘Working Class Hero’. Lennon’s second solo album ‘Imagine’ was both a critical and commercial success, topping the charts in several countries including the UK, USA, Japan and Australia. The album's title track is now seen as one of the most recognised anthems for world peace.  

In total, Lennon released 11 solo albums and 23 singles and as a performer, writer or co-writer secured 25 number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. He accumulated 23 million record sales as a solo artist and three Billboard number one albums.   

Lennon and Ono achieved worldwide success with singles such as ‘Happy Xmas (War is Over)’ and ‘Give Peace a Chance’. The Grammy award-winning album ‘Double Fantasy’ is their most commercially successful collaboration.  

In total, Ono has recorded 14 studio albums, eight collaborative LPs and released 40 singles. She has also built a large following in the world of electronic music with 13 number one singles on the Billboard Dance Chart. Throughout her ever-exploratory music career, Ono has continuously pushed creative and genre boundaries, becoming a recognised influence on a number of musicians and movements, including punk. 

The John Lennon Estate said: “PPL has shown they are the leaders in advocating for neighbouring rights globally. We have the utmost respect for the team and look forward to working with them.” 

Peter Leathem OBE, CEO of PPL, said: “It is an honour to be appointed by the John Lennon Estate for neighbouring rights collections. Our team works hard to ensure no stone is left unturned in the collection of neighbouring rights royalties around the world. It is a privilege to advocate for and collect public performance and broadcast rights globally for such a revered catalogue of recorded music.” 

By appointing PPL, the John Lennon Estate will benefit from its expertise in neighbouring rights, its global reach, and a dedicated team with in-depth knowledge and a real passion for music. PPL is a leader in royalty collections with 111 agreements in place with other collective management organisations (CMOs) around the world. 

PPL has compiled UK broadcast data across radio and TV to reveal the Top 10 Most Played John Lennon recordings of the 21st century.  ‘Woman’ takes the top spot, receiving one million more seconds of airplay than ‘Imagine’. ‘Woman’ makes up 24% of John Lennon’s total airplay this century, the equivalent of broadcasting the song for six months non-stop, whereas ‘Imagine’ totals 23%, comparable to five and a half months of continuous play. 

1. Woman 

2. Imagine 

3. Happy Xmas (War Is Over) - John & Yoko And The Plastic Ono Band With The Harlem Community Choir 

4. (Just Like) Starting Over 

5. Jealous Guy 

6. Instant Karma! (We All Shine On) 

7. Stand By Me 

8. Nobody Told Me 

9. Watching The Wheels 

10. #9 Dream