What Is The MLC and Why Do I Need to Register With It?

What Does The MLC Do?

  • Collects mechanical royalties from services like:
    • Spotify
    • Apple Music
    • Amazon Music
    • Tidal
  • Distributes those royalties to:
    • Publishers
    • Self-administered songwriters (if you don’t have a publisher)


 Why The MLC Exists

Before The MLC, mechanical royalties were hard to track, and many songwriters never got paid. Now, The MLC ensures:

  • One central place for mechanical royalty collection in the U.S.
  • Transparent and free access to what you’re owed
  • Better data accuracy and reduced “black box” money


 What Kind of Royalties Does The MLC Pay?

Type of Use

Pays Mechanical Royalties via MLC?

Spotify Premium

 Yes

Apple Music

 Yes

Amazon Music Unlimited

 Yes

YouTube (via Content ID)

 No (not via MLC)

Pandora Radio

 No (performance royalties only)



 How to Register with The MLC

  1. Go to themlc.com
  2. Sign up as a Self-Administered Songwriter or Publisher
  3. Add your personal info and banking details
  4. Register your compositions (not recordings)
    • Include song title, co-writer splits, ISWC, and other metadata

 It’s completely free


 Why It’s Important

  • If your songs aren’t registered, your royalties go unpaid or sit in black box funds
  • You could be missing hundreds or thousands of dollars over time
  • Registering ensures you collect from major platforms in the U.S.


 Pro Tips

  • Join The MLC even if you’re already with a PRO (they handle different royalties)
  • Keep your song metadata clean and consistent across all platforms
  • Check The MLC’s Public Works Portal to verify your songs are listed properly


Bottom Line:
If your music is streaming in the U.S., you must register with The MLC to receive your mechanical royalties. It’s free, easy, and critical to your income as a songwriter.

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