London & South East Premier Construction

Starting the year on a high note

RS for music, Streatham
Written by Roma Publications

RS for music, Streatham

 The organisation that represents over 100,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers, PRS for Music, has just moved into its newly refurbished premises on Streatham High Road, Streatham.

Main contractors for the refurbishment project were Como Group; Architects were HLW. GDM Partnership Building Services Engineers carried out design works on the scheme.

PRS for Music has had a presence in Streatham for a number of years, but has given the site a dramatic makeover and has now based almost 350 staff there, working across membership, operations and IT.

The scheme comprised the complete refurbishment of the organisation’s 30,000 sq ft offices over five floors, with the works including the total strip out of all existing services and the installation of new heating, cooling and general lighting and power.

Challenges overcome by the contract team involved working on a restricted site which included a large ground floor retail outlet, as well as adjoining residential flats.

Chief Executive, Robert Ashcroft, PRS Chair, Guy Fletcher and the Executive Director of PRS for Music Foundation, Vanessa Reed were joined by local MP for Streatham and Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation & Skills, Chuka Umunna to celebrate the striking, modern offices.

The event was also marked with live music performances by multi award-nominated PRS for Music members, Kate Tempest and MiC Lowry, who played to staff, local business owners and representatives from the Streatham community.

PRS for Music has also recently opened new 40,000 sq ft offices at Two Pancras Square, Kings Cross.

PRS for Music’s Chief Executive, Robert Ashcroft, commented:

“Leaving Berners Street after over 50 years has allowed us to create in Streatham and at Kings Cross a working environment able to support a modern, agile business. We’ve been working with some excellent teams that have worked hard to produce a striking and genuinely fit-for-purpose place to work. Our aim has always been to be the best collective rights management organisation in the world and working from these state of the art premises will enable us to further that aim.”

Chuka Umunna MP, said:

“Music has always been very important to me, and is a big part our area’s identity, so I am thrilled to see the growing presence of PRS for Music in the borough. Not just because it was through them I got the opportunity to meet my heroes Soul II Soul who performed their first ever gig in my constituency – but also because I have always placed strengthening our local economy as an important part of my job as the local MP, and that PRS for Music have made this wonderful decision to expand their base here in Streatham is fantastic.”

As a membership organisation, PRS for Music ensures that music creators are paid whenever their music is played, performed or reproduced; championing the importance of copyright to protect and support the UK music industry. The UK has a proud tradition of creating wonderful music that is enjoyed the world over and PRS for Music has been supporting the creators of that music since 1914.

PRS for Music provides business and community groups with easy access to over 10 million songs through its music licenses.  In an industry worth £3.8bn PRS for Music is uniquely placed to be a voice for music and music creators. Collecting £630.8m in 2011, PRS for Music is one of the world’s most efficient combined rights organisations. With 150 representation agreements in place globally, PRS for Music’s network represents over 2 million music creators.

About the author

Roma Publications