The Songwriter Checklist: A Guide to Getting Paid
If you’re an independent songwriter navigating the world of music royalties, it’s important to make sure you’re not missing out on any money you’ve earned. That’s why we created The Songwriter Checklist — a straightforward, downloadable guide designed to help creators like you take the necessary steps to receive your royalties.
Whether you’re fully or partially self-administered, the checklist is designed, this checklist can help you stay on track and collect the royalties you’re owed.
How the Songwriter Checklist Can Help You
As a songwriter, you earn different types of royalties when your music is streamed, publicly performed, or used in visual content — but those royalties don’t automatically find their way to you. It’s important for you (or your publisher or administrator partner) to make sure your works are properly registered and that you’re set up with the right organizations to collect all of the royalties you’re owed.
If you’re self-administered (meaning you don’t have a publisher or publishing administrator managing your songs), you’ll need to take a few extra steps — and this checklist walks you through them.
What’s in the Songwriter Checklist
The Songwriter Checklist breaks down the process of registering your songs and claiming your royalties into clear, manageable steps, depending on your situation. The checklist includes action items for all songwriters, composers, and lyricists, along with a specialized section for those who are self-administered. Here’s a preview of the topics covered:
- Deciding how your publishing is administered (fully or partially self-administered, or fully administered)
- Joining a PRO (performing rights organization) as a writer
- Becoming a Member of The MLC
- Registering your musical works with your PRO, The MLC, and the U.S. Copyright Office
- Using The MLC’s Member tools to identify unmatched usage of your works
Each section includes space to fill in important details and track your progress so you can stay organized and confident in your royalty collection process.
Download the Checklist
Whether you’re fully self-administered or somewhere in between, the checklist is designed to help you understand your role in royalty collection and ensure you’re not leaving money on the table.
👉 Click Here to Download the Songwriter Checklist (PDF)
We're Here to Help
Becoming a Member of The MLC is free and easy, and our Support Team is here to assist you every step of the way. If you have questions about the checklist, or any part of the registration or royalty process, we’re just a click or call away.
Visit themlc.com to learn more and get started today.