If you've released original music on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, or any other US streaming service, those platforms owe you mechanical royalties. But you only collect them if you're registered with the Mechanical Licensing Collective — and most independent artists aren't.
This guide walks through exactly how to register with the MLC and start collecting what you're owed.
What Is the MLC?
The Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) is a non-profit organization established by the Music Modernization Act of 2018. It's the designated body in the United States for collecting and distributing mechanical royalties from digital audio services.
When Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and similar platforms stream your songs, they owe a mechanical royalty to the songwriter and publisher of the composition. Before the MLC existed, collecting these royalties was a fragmented, inefficient process. Now, all US streaming mechanicals flow through a single clearinghouse: the MLC.
The MLC began operations on January 1, 2021. If you released music before that date and weren't registered, those royalties may be held as “unmatched” in the MLC's system — and they're waiting for you to claim them.
Who Should Register?
You should register with the MLC if you:
- Write original songs (even if you co-write them)
- Own or co-own the publishing rights to your music
- Have released music on US streaming services
- Are a music publisher representing songwriter clients
Independent artists who release their own music typically function as both the songwriter and the publisher. You should register in both roles.
What the MLC Collects
The MLC collects mechanical royalties from “interactive streaming” — platforms where users can choose exactly what they listen to. This includes:
- Spotify (on-demand streams)
- Apple Music (on-demand streams)
- Amazon Music Unlimited (on-demand streams)
- Tidal
- YouTube Music (on-demand streams)
- Other licensed digital audio services
The MLC does NOT collect performance royalties (those go to your PRO like ASCAP or BMI) or digital performance royalties for non-interactive radio (those go to SoundExchange).
How to Register with the MLC
Step 1: Go to themlc.com
Navigate to themlc.com and click “Join.” Registration is completely free.
Step 2: Create Your Account
You'll choose whether to register as:
- Songwriter (Lyricist/Composer): If you write the music and lyrics
- Music Publisher: If you own publishing rights (independent artists typically register as both)
For your account, you'll need:
- Your legal name
- Contact information
- Your PRO affiliation (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, etc.) and IPI number
- Tax information (W-9 or W-8BEN for international)
- Banking information for direct deposit
Step 3: Register Your Works
Once your account is active, add your songs to the MLC's Works database. For each song, you'll provide:
- Song title
- Writer names and IPI numbers
- Publisher names (and IPI numbers)
- Percentage of ownership for each party
- ISWC code (if you have it)
- ISRC codes for recordings of the song (if you have them)
The MLC uses this information to match royalties to the correct rights holders. The more complete your registration, the better the matching.
Step 4: Claim Unmatched Royalties
The MLC maintains a “Royalty Matching” tool that lets you search for royalties associated with your works that haven't yet been matched to a registered rights holder. This is especially valuable if you released music before 2021 or before registering.
Search for your works and claim any unmatched royalties. The MLC will verify your claim and process the payment.
Step 5: Set Up Direct Deposit
Royalties are paid quarterly. Set up direct deposit or an ACH transfer so payments go directly to your bank account.
MLC Registration and Co-Written Songs
When you register a co-written song with the MLC, you'll need to declare each co-writer's share of the publishing. This is exactly the information documented in a split sheet.
If your co-writer registers the same song with different splits than what you registered, the MLC will flag the discrepancy. Having a signed split sheet from the time of the collaboration resolves these disputes quickly and definitively.
At musicsplitsheets.com, you can generate a professional split sheet PDF for $3 — it captures all the information you'll need for MLC registration, including writer names, IPI numbers, and publishing percentages. Get it signed before the song releases, and your MLC registration becomes straightforward.
How Long Does MLC Registration Take?
Account creation is typically instant. Work registration is processed within a few days. Royalty payments follow a quarterly cycle — royalties collected in one quarter are generally paid the following quarter, though processing timelines can vary.
Is the MLC Free?
Registration and participation in the MLC is completely free for songwriters and publishers. The MLC is funded by a portion of the mechanical royalties collected from digital services, not by fees from rights holders.