The MLC Launches Music Registration 101 Micro-Course Covering Copyright, Music Registration, and Royalties

Free online course provides practical guidance on how music rights are registered and how royalties are collected across the music industry.

NASHVILLE, TN – The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC) announced the launch of its new online micro-course, Music Registration 101: Registering Your Music, designed to help music creators, current and aspiring industry professionals, and others better understand how music rights work and how to properly register them in order to ensure royalties are distributed to the appropriate rightsholders. Music Registration 101 provides a practical overview of registration across key organizations involved in copyright, publishing administration, and distribution.

The course is available at no cost and is designed to make foundational music rights information more accessible. It is also included as part of The MLC’s Member Benefits program, giving Members of The MLC access to educational tools and resources that support their careers.

The course takes approximately three hours to complete and includes optional quizzes at the end of each section. Upon completion of the course, participants receive a personalized certificate of completion for academic or professional use. Those who choose to take the optional final assessment and score 80% or higher also earn a digital badge.

The course covers key topics, including:

• Core concepts of copyright, rights, revenue, licensing, and music identifiers
• How music is registered with the United States Copyright Office
• An overview of publishing administration for musical works 
• How performance royalties are collected through performing rights organizations (PROs) 
• How mechanical royalties are collected through The MLC 
• How sound recording distribution revenue is collected by distributors
• How digital performance royalties for sound recordings are collected through SoundExchange

“The MLC is focused on making sure rightsholders get paid, while also helping them understand how the ecosystem works,” said Serona Elton, Head of Educational Partnerships at The MLC. “This course breaks down complex concepts into clear, practical information so rightsholders can take meaningful steps in managing their careers and ensuring they receive the royalties they’ve earned.”

Music Registration 101 is one of two free micro-courses currently offered by The MLC. The MLC also offers The MLC 101: Introduction to The MLC, a foundational course that provides an overview of The MLC, mechanical licensing, and mechanical royalties, including key concepts such as the Music Modernization Act, membership, and how mechanical royalties are administered in today’s digital music landscape. Together, these courses help demystify music rights and provide rightsholders and others with foundational knowledge to navigate the modern music landscape. To learn more or request enrollment, click here.