The MLC is a nonprofit organization specifically created to fulfill the role of the mechanical licensing collective under the Music Modernization Act of 2018 (MMA). The MLC is the product of collaboration by a broad coalition of songwriters and music publishers and their trade organizations who came together to create an entity that is uniquely situated to fulfill the vision of the MMA and to solve the challenges of mechanical licensing in the digital space.
Designation
In July 2019, the U.S. Register of Copyrights designated The MLC to be the entity that issues and administers blanket mechanical licenses for the use of musical works in digital spaces. The MMA requires that the Register review that designation every five years. More information about the periodic review process can be found here.
Governance
The MLC’s governance structure is set forth in the MMA. It is led by a Board of Directors that is comprised of fourteen individuals: ten must be representatives of music publishers and four must be professional songwriters who retain and license mechanical rights for songs they have written. No two Board Members may be affiliated with music publishers under common control or ownership. There are also three nonvoting Board Members representing trade organizations for songwriters, music publishers and digital music providers, respectively.
The Board of Directors also receives guidance and support from three Advisory Committees set forth in the MMA. These are:
- The Unclaimed Royalties Oversight Committee, composed of five songwriters and five representatives of musical work copyright owners;
- The Dispute Resolution Committee, composed of five songwriters and five representatives of musical work copyright owners; and
- The Operations Advisory Committee, composed of six representatives of musical work copyright owners and six representatives of digital music providers.
Songwriter members of the Board and committees will be selected by songwriters, while publisher representatives and musical work copyright owner members will continue to be selected by publisher representatives and musical work copyright owner members.
For more information, The MLC’s bylaws are available here.
Policies
Conflicts of Interest Policy: The MLC’s Conflict of Interest Policy establishes guidelines for appropriately managing actual, potential or perceived Conflicts of Interest in accordance with legal requirements and The MLC’s goals of accountability and transparency. To read the full policy, click here.
Investment Policy Statement: The MLC’s Investment Policy addresses The MLC’s investment of unmatched royalty funds, including outlining procedures that The MLC will follow to satisfy the MMA’s requirements. To read the full policy, click here.
Cash Management Policy Statement: The MLC’s Cash Management Policy addresses The MLC’s management of all royalty funds other than Unmatched Royalty Funds as defined in The MLC’s Investment Policy. To read the full policy, click here.
Reports
The MLC 2024 Annual Report
The MLC 2023 Annual Report
The MLC 2022 Annual Report
The MLC 2021 Annual Report
The MLC 2021 Interim Annual Report
Public Financials
Auditor Letter to Board re MMA Audit Provision (115(d)(3)(D)(ix)(II))
