What Is the MLC?
The MLC (Mechanical Licensing Collective) is the US organization responsible for collecting and paying out mechanical royalties earned when songs are streamed or downloaded on interactive services like Spotify and Apple Music. If you're a self-published songwriter — meaning you own 100% of your publishing and aren't signed to a publisher who registers on your behalf — you need to register your songs directly with The MLC to collect these royalties yourself.
Here's what The MLC does, who needs to register, how to do it, and how it fits alongside the other royalty organizations you'll encounter as an independent artist.
What The MLC Does
The Mechanical Licensing Collective was created by the Music Modernization Act (MMA), a US law passed in 2018, to fix a broken system for paying mechanical royalties on streaming. Before The MLC existed, streaming services often couldn't identify who owned a composition, leading to unmatched royalties sitting unpaid.
The MLC's core functions:
- Collects mechanical royalties from digital streaming services (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, etc.) for the use of musical compositions in interactive/on-demand streams and downloads.
- Matches those royalties to the correct songwriters and publishers using submitted composition data (including IPI numbers — see what is an IPI/CAE number).
- Pays out matched royalties directly to registered songwriters and publishers.
- Holds unmatched royalties in escrow while trying to identify the rightful owner, which is exactly why registering your songs proactively matters — unclaimed royalties can otherwise go unpaid indefinitely.
What Are Mechanical Royalties, Exactly?
A mechanical royalty is generated any time a composition is reproduced — historically this meant physical copies (vinyl, CDs) or downloads, but the Music Modernization Act extended the definition to cover interactive streaming as well. So every time your song is streamed on-demand on a platform like Spotify, a mechanical royalty is generated in addition to the performance royalty.
This is separate from:
- Performance royalties (collected by PROs like ASCAP/BMI/SESAC for the "performance" of the composition)
- Master recording royalties (paid to whoever owns the actual recording, typically via your distributor)
- Digital performance royalties for non-interactive platforms (collected by SoundExchange — see what is SoundExchange)
Every stream on an interactive platform can generate multiple, separate royalty streams simultaneously — which is exactly why so many independent artists leave money unclaimed when they're only registered with some of these organizations and not others.
Do I Need to Register With The MLC?
You need to register with The MLC if you are a self-published songwriter — meaning you own your own publishing rights and aren't signed to a traditional publisher that registers and collects mechanical royalties on your behalf.
| Situation | Do You Need to Register With The MLC? |
|---|---|
| You wrote and self-publish your own songs | Yes — register directly to collect mechanical royalties |
| You're signed to a publisher | Usually no — your publisher typically registers and collects on your behalf, though confirm this with your publishing deal |
| You're in a band and co-wrote a song | Yes, each self-published writer/publisher should register their share |
| You only perform covers you didn't write | You don't register the composition (since you don't own it), but you still need proper licensing to distribute the cover — see how to license a cover song |
| Your song has multiple co-writers with different publishing setups | Each self-published party should register their individual share |
For most independent artists — especially those who write, record, and distribute their own music without a publishing deal — registering with The MLC directly is essential. Skipping this step means leaving mechanical royalties unclaimed in The MLC's system.
How to Register With The MLC
- Gather your metadata. You'll need your legal songwriter name, IPI number (from your PRO membership), and details for each composition you've released.
- Create an account at themlc.com. Registration is free.
- Register as a songwriter and/or publisher, depending on your setup. If you self-publish, register your publishing entity as well as yourself as the writer.
- Add your musical works. Enter each composition's title, writer/publisher splits, and relevant identifiers (ISWC if available).
- Link your sound recordings. The MLC can match compositions to recordings using ISRC codes, so make sure your distributor has assigned proper ISRCs to your tracks — see what is an ISRC code.
- Keep your data updated as you release new music, since unregistered songs won't generate matched royalty payments.
The MLC vs. PRO vs. SoundExchange
These three organizations often get confused because they all pay "royalties," but each covers a completely different revenue stream.
| The MLC | PRO (ASCAP/BMI/SESAC) | SoundExchange | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty type | Mechanical royalties | Performance royalties | Digital performance royalties |
| Covers | Interactive streams/downloads of the composition | Radio, live performances, interactive streams of the composition | Non-interactive digital platforms (satellite radio, internet/webcasting radio) |
| Pays | Songwriters/publishers | Songwriters/publishers | Master recording owners (and performers, via a separate share) |
| Who registers | Self-published songwriters/publishers | All songwriters (via PRO membership) | Master rights owners (artists, labels) |
| Applies to | The composition | The composition | The sound recording |
Because these organizations collect entirely different royalty types from different platform categories, being registered with only one or two of them means you're missing revenue. Most independent artists who write and record their own music should be registered with all three — plus properly distributed with accurate metadata, which is where your distributor comes in.
How This Fits Into Your Full Royalty Setup
Registering with The MLC is one piece of a complete royalty collection strategy. For the full picture, check out:
- Music publishing 101 for how composition royalties work overall
- Music copyright 101 for the legal foundation behind all of this
- Writers share vs. publishers share for how composition royalties split between writer and publisher roles
- How much does Spotify pay per stream for how mechanical and master royalties combine on a per-stream basis
FAQ
Is registering with The MLC free?
Yes — registration with The MLC is free for songwriters and publishers. There's no cost to create an account or register your compositions.
What happens if I don't register with The MLC?
If you don't register, any mechanical royalties generated by your streams get held by The MLC as "unmatched" funds while they attempt to identify the rightful owner, meaning you may not get paid even though the royalties exist. Proactively registering your compositions is the only reliable way to make sure that money reaches you.
Is The MLC the same as a PRO like ASCAP or BMI?
No — The MLC collects mechanical royalties for interactive streaming and downloads, while PROs like ASCAP and BMI collect performance royalties for public performances, broadcasts, and interactive streams of the composition. They're separate organizations covering separate royalty types, and most self-published songwriters need to register with both.
Do I need to register with The MLC if I use a music distributor?
Yes — your distributor gets your recordings onto streaming platforms and generally handles master recording royalties, but it typically does not register your compositions with The MLC for mechanical royalties. Those are separate systems, so self-published songwriters need to register with The MLC directly regardless of which distributor they use.
Does The MLC pay international royalties?
No — The MLC specifically administers US mechanical royalties for interactive streaming as established under US law. International mechanical royalties are typically collected through your PRO's international affiliations or a separate publishing administrator, depending on your setup.
Don't Leave Royalties Unclaimed
Getting your distribution and metadata right is the foundation for collecting every royalty you're owed — mechanical, performance, and master. Banger for Artists makes sure your releases carry the accurate metadata that organizations like The MLC use to match and pay you. Distribute your music with Banger.
