Ensures streaming services pay royalties
A reminder to all songwriters and music publishers: please sign the petition supporting the Music Licensing Collective!
The submission, which will be filed by March 21, creates the collective required by the Music Modernization Act (MMA) to license and administer mechanical rights. (The MLC will not replace your existing P.R.O.) The Register of Copyrights will designate the MLC from submitted applications based on an entity proving itself able to achieve the goals of the MLC, as well as meeting all the legal requirements as stipulated in the MMA.
A major benefit: MLC will collect and distribute your mechanical streaming royalties for free.
As mentioned in a previous post here, at least one other organization is bidding for the right to administer these services. However, MLC is the one formed as a collective that includes and is endorsed by Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), Songwriters of North America (SONA) and National Music Publishers Association (NMPA). Additionally, MLC receives the endorsement of your Performing Rights Organizations ASCAP, BMI and SESAC. It is the applicant that is run by songwriters for songwriters.
When the MLC is up and running, there will be no charge for songwriters to participate. The financial benefits for songwriters under the new MMA are considerable, particularly with increase in potential income from streaming and downloads that MLC will administer.
But time is running out and MLC needs your endorsement to show the US Copyright Office that the MLC has your support. Take a moment to add your endorsement now at supportthemlc.com.
MLC ‘great new tool’ for songwriters
Excerpt from ‘About the MLC:’ Streaming companies must license millions of individual songs and no agency exists to do this job. Music publishers may collect mechanical royalties for a songwriter or hire a company to collect them. Many self-published songwriters must pay someone to collect their royalties, do the often-complicated job themselves, or many just don’t bother with collecting them at all.
The Music Licensing Collective, or MLC, will be a great new tool for American songwriters and in January 2021 will begin licensing your mechanical streaming royalties for FREE! It’s free because the streaming companies agreed to pay all the costs as part of the MUSIC MODERNIZATION ACT. All you’ll have to do is join!
Read more information about how the MLC will help songwriters at no charge to you here.
#supportthemlc #musicmodernizationact #songwriters
Preshias Harris is a music journalist and music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available at www.collegeofsongology.com Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com