I fear I may, over on the BBC site, have contributed to some confusion over the registration of The White Hare with PRS.

I checked with them when the debate first began, having asked the question there and had no answer.

I'd understood that I'd been told it was registered as Tune: Trad arr Lakeman, Words: Lakeman.

However, I've just doubled-checked - and it seems that both words AND tune are down as Trad arr Lakeman.

This is actually what I put on the BBC, having only been concerned to answer my own question on whether it as registered as an original Lakeman or not - so at least that was correct, but others have suggested otherwise here so I thought it should be re-stated clearly for the record.

FYI the arrangement was registered in March 06, by EMI, and has not been changed since.

Now I'd understood - as have others here - that John Leonard has suggested that Seth will get less money from PRS for performances of HIS OWN version of the White Hare.

Actually he'll make exactly the same as if he'd written it - as PRs confirmed this morning.

However, John would be correct if he was saying that Seth may get less money overall, in the final anlysis - because any PRS member can record 'Seth's' words and tune, make some minor alterations, and register his or her own arrangement - exactly as anyone may with any traditional piece.

People are already putting the song onto their albums (Gerry McN - is that you, Mate?). Those who don't want to, or can't, register a new arrangement, can call it simply 'Trad.'

There are, of course, also a number of registrations of arrangements of the very different traditional song The White Hare.

I'm not sure how royalties are divided between different arrangers of Trad tunes. I'll ask next time I need to talk with PRS.

By the way, I did mention the circumstances (as explained by Seth) behind his arrangement of White Hare, and they did express surprise that it could have been registered as Trad Arr in those circumstances. It would not normally quality with such a gestation.

I'm not quite sure where that leaves everyone, but I thought I'd better clear up any confusion I might have helped to cause!

Tom Bliss