ALCS calls on authors to complete income survey

The Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS) is repeating its survey measuring authors’ incomes.

The findings will update the data it has retained from its 2006 and 2013 surveys, informing the Society of Authors' (SoA) campaigning work as well as its own. 

It was shown that the typical annual income for a professional author in 2013 was £11,000 - thousands below the socially acceptable standard of living.

Both ALCS and SoA are encouraging authors to complete the new survey, regardless of the genre of their work or income bracket. The questionnaire requires authors to indicate their earnings for the 2016/17 tax year.

As well as the knowledge that responding to the survey will help fellow authors, respondents will also have the chance to enter a draw to win a cash prize worth £500.

Owen Atkinson, ALCS chief executive, said: “By updating the findings of previous surveys undertaken in 2006 and 2013, this research project (which we hope to repeat at regular intervals) will capture the impact of emerging technologies and markets on writers’ working lives. In doing so, writers can help ALCS and other organisations representing them to effectively lobby and look after their rights and interests as creators.”

The survey can be completed here. The deadline date is 28th February 2018.