Member-only story
The Mechanical License Collective (MLC) is Up & Running and You Need to Sign Up.
The Mechanical License Collective (MLC) is up and running. The Music Modernization Act of 2018 specifically called for a nonprofit organization designated by the U.S. Copyright Office to collect digital mechanical royalties in the United States. A few years later, the MLC is trying to bridge the gap between technology, collection and royalties. In fact the MMA, specifically states that the only way to receive digital audio mechanical royalties due to songwriters and producers from DSPs pursuant to the compulsory blanket mechanical license is to become a Member of The MLC. The addition of streaming to the music business ecosystem has certainly led to significant change in a short time frame. The MLC is an example of this. Nonetheless, it is important to understand the dynamics and actual mechanics of what the MLC does and how it fits into the publishing and music business ecosystem. Although the collective is very important, just like with other streams of royalty revenue, you need to make sure you are collecting as much as possible.
What Royalty Does the MLC Collect and Pay Out?
The MLC collects and pays out the “streaming” (and digital download) mechanical royalty. A mechanical royalty is generated every time a song is reproduced. In 2021 and beyond reproduction mostly means every…
