Here's Everything Rightsholders Need to Know About The MLC
If you’re a songwriter or other creator with music available for streaming and downloads through digital service providers (DSPs) like Spotify and Apple Music, there’s one very important question you should be asking yourself: are you getting all of the money you have earned for the use of your music by those services?
If the answer is “no” – or you’re not sure – it’s time to get to know The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC).
Established by the Music Modernization Act of 2018 (MMA), The MLC’s mission is simple: to ensure rightsholders like you receive all of the digital audio mechanical royalties they’re owed for streams and downloads of their music. And The MLC began fulfilling that mission in a big way during its first official year of operations in 2021, distributing more than $280 million in royalties to its membership of self-administered songwriters, composers, lyricists, and music publishers.
With even more royalties to be distributed by The MLC this year, you don’t want to miss out on the money you have earned and deserve. Read on to learn a handful of key details you should know about The MLC and why you might want to consider joining.
But before you do, if you’d like to learn a bit more about all the different royalties you’re eligible to collect as an artist, and how to collect them, take a look at our free, in-depth course with DIY music industry insider, Ari Herstand, How to Get All the Royalties You Never Knew Existed. Check it out!