Membership

The MLC makes sure songwriters, composers, and lyricists get paid the streaming royalties they’re owed from U.S. digital service providers. When you become a Member, you Connect to Collect® your mechanical streaming royalties — accurately, transparently, and on time.

Who needs to become a Member?

Anyone entitled to collect digital audio mechanical royalties in the U.S. should become a Member of The MLC. This includes:

• Independent Songwriters (Self-Administered) – Songwriters, composers, and lyricists who manage their own songs — meaning you register your songs yourself and collect your own royalties.
• Music Publishers and Publishing Administrators – Companies that manage song catalogs on behalf of creators. Becoming a Member allows you to:
  • Register and update the songs you control
  • Suggest matches between sound recordings and those musical works
  • Collect mechanical royalties for those works
• International Collective Management Organizations (CMOs) – CMOs that collect mechanical royalties on behalf of rightsholders need to become Members of The MLC in order to register the musical works they control with The MLC, review and update the data for those works, suggest matches of sound recording uses to their musical works, and collect mechanical royalties for those works. Want to see which CMOs are already connected? Click here.

Unsure if you may be entitled to collect U.S. digital audio mechanical royalties? Click here to search our Missing Member Lookup to see if The MLC may have royalties waiting for you.

Once you’re a Member, you’ll have access to the Member Hub within The MLC Portal to register new musical works, review and update your existing musical works data, and suggest matches of sound recording uses to your musical works.

How do I become a Member?

It’s free and easy to join. Click here to Get Started.

How can I connect with The MLC if I have a publisher or administrator?

If you are a songwriter with some or all of your musical works managed by a publisher or administrator, you can still sign up for The MLC Portal to get access to the Songwriter Hub, which offers increased visibility into the songs you have registered with The MLC. The Songwriter Hub allows you to view and export your catalog, suggest matches of sound recordings to works in your catalog, and more.

Where can I learn more?

We’ve put together resources designed for different audiences, whether you’re a self-administered songwriter or a publisher, administrator, or CMO. Click here to check them out.