Blur drummer Dave Rowntree has lost a U.K. court appeal to revive his challenge against PRS For Music’s “black box” royalty distribution on Monday (June 29).
The U.K.’s Court of Appeal has dismissed his appeal in his proposed class action against the nonprofit collection society. Rowntree’s proposed class action on behalf of PRS’ songwriter members is now dismissed.
Rowtree’s proposed suit was initially struck down by the Competition Appeal Tribunal in August 2025 by Lord Justice Miles. That ruling has now been upheld with the court finding that Rowntree had not put together a “counterfactual” method of distribution against which the society’s approach could be measured. Read the full ruling here.
The proposed suit criticized PRS’ so-called “black box” royalty distribution; PRS uses the term “unidentified royalties.” These royalties are sums that PRS collects but cannot match to the correct songwriter or publisher due to data that is missing or inaccurate.
These royalties are distributed on a pro rata distribution to its writer and publisher based on the same proportions as identified royalties.
Rowntree argued that this favored publishers over songwriters and that the distribution method of a reported £200 million ($264 million) should be amended to ensure fairer payouts to its members.
The Court of Appeal has now ruled that “there is nothing inherently unfair about the pro rata distribution” of unallocated royalties, recognizing that the system operates with incomplete information.
In his original judgment in August 2025, Lord Justice Miles wrote, “the reason why no counterfactual has been advanced, even in general terms, is manifest: it is that the very data failure problem which has given rise to the black box royalties means that there is no plausible basis for suggesting a more accurate (let alone fairer) distribution.” This ruling was upheld by Lord Justice Zacaroli and Lord Justice Nugee.
A PRS for Music spokesperson said: “The Court of Appeal has once again recognised that this claim has no reasonable prospect of success and has upheld the Competition Appeal Tribunal’s earlier decision to strike it out, vindicating our longstanding position that this claim was never in the interests of PRS members.
“This class action was fundamentally flawed, and was a complete misrepresentation of our policies from the outset. It would have resulted in PRS members suing the society they collectively own, despite there being soaring costs attached and no logical basis for doing so.
“We welcome the decision and look forward to continuing to focus on our main priority which has always been, and remains, delivering value for our members and protecting their rights wherever and whenever their music is used.”
Rowntree has not yet commented on the ruling.
In 2025, PRS For Music paid out £1.24 billion ($1.6 billion) to songwriters, composers and publishers and represents the rights of more than 190,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers.
