HypeBot: What Every Songwriter Needs To Know About The Music Licensing Collective | Mechanical Licensing Collective

A major component of the recently passed Music Modernization Act is a new entity known as the Music Licensing Collective (or MLC), designed to manage blanket licensing, gather money from streaming platforms, and payout revenue to copyright owner. Here we review some key things songwriters should know before the MLC goes into effect.

One of the many aspects of the recently passed Music Modernization Act by Congress is what’s known as the Music Licensing Collective, or MLC. This is the new entity that’s going to manage blanket licensing, collect money from streaming services, and pay copyright owners in the future. It’s slated to begin on January 1st, 2021 and will be funded by the streaming music platforms.

What Will The MLC Do?

Songwriters receive two kinds of royalties. Performance royalties are paid to those that are affiliated with a performing rights organization, meaning either ASCAP, BMI, GMR or SESAC.

Mechanical streaming royalties are a different story however. Streaming platforms must license millions of individual songs and there’s no single agency that currently does this job. Right now, music publishers either collect mechanical royalties for a songwriter or they hire a third-party company to collect the royalty for them. The problem is that many self-published songwriters end up paying someone to collect these royalties, or they attempt to do the job themselves, which can be complicated and time-consuming. As a result, many don’t even bother with collecting them at all.

The MLC hopes to remedy that by acting as a one-stop source for easy licensing and collection and distribution of streaming mechanical royalties. The best part is that it’s free – all you have to do is join as soon as it gets going.

Read More.

Get Started

MEmbership is always free

Our mission is to support creators like you with full transparency into the performance of your music. Our member portal helps you see which of your songs have earned royalties, which ones are still being matched, and when payments are made. This openness helps you trust the process and know that your songs are being tracked and paid for fairly.

Become A Member

Resources

Resources to help you maximize your earnings

ARTICLES

DURP Informational Webinar

If you’re an independent music distributor, aggregator, or sound recording distributor interested in accessing all the unmatched recordings you’ve

ARTICLES

Data Programs

Data Programs at The MLC The MLC’s data programs support the efforts of dozens of digital media and technology companies around the world to gain insight

FAQs

What are the regulations and where can one find the full text of the rates and terms for Phono 4?

The CRB published a Final Rule in the U.S. Federal Register setting the blanket license mechanical royalty rates for permanent digital downloads.

FAQs

Where can I find answers about The MLC portal?

After you have established a login to the Portal, you will find helpful information in our Knowledge Base.

FAQs

I want to read the regulation myself. Where can I find it?

The regulation outlining this entire process is found in 37 CFR 210.10(c)(5). You can also reference the regulation along with supplementary information as

Explore All Resources

Stay Up
To Date

News & Press Releases

See more news

Press Releases BETA

Music Ally: MLC confirms data partners and identity of its CIO

February 21, 2026

Press Releases BETA

Tennessean: How Music Publishers Can Prepare for Mechanical Licensing Collective Database

February 21, 2026

Press Releases BETA