Who needs to join (Connect to Collect) The MLC?

Anyone who wishes to receive digital audio mechanical royalties from The MLC needs to become a Member of The MLC. This includes music publishers, publishing administrators, ex-U.S. collective management organizations (CMOs), and self-administered songwriters, composers and lyricists. Becoming a “Member” of The MLC is how you Connect to Collect. 

Members of The MLC use The MLC Portal to register new musical works, review and update their existing musical works data and suggest matches of sound recording uses to their musical works.

Here’s who needs to Connect to Collect and become a Member of The MLC: 

• Self-Administered Songwriters: Songwriters, composers and lyricists are “self-administered” if they have retained the right to register any of their own musical works with The MLC AND collect their own mechanical royalties either directly or through a business manager, accountant, lawyer, or other representative/agent. 
  • If you have assigned your rights to register your musical works and collect your mechanical royalties in the United States to a music publisher or administrator, you do not need to become a Member of The MLC. Your publisher or administrator will handle your registration and collection. If you work with a music publisher or administrator in any capacity, please check with that music publisher or administrator before becoming a Member of The MLC. 
• Music Publishers and Publishing Administrators: Music publishers and publishing administrators need to become Members of The MLC in order to register the musical works they control with The MLC, review and update the data for those works, suggest matches of sound recording uses to their musical works, and collect mechanical royalties for those works. 
• Ex-US Collective Management Organizations (CMOs): CMOs that collect mechanical royalties need to become Members of The MLC in order to register the musical works they control with The MLC, review and update the data for those works, suggest matches of sound recording uses to their musical works, and collect mechanical royalties for those works.