5. Collecting Mechanical Royalties: The MLC and Publishing Administrators

In the United States, the primary organization for collecting mechanical royalties from digital streaming is The MLC (Mechanical Licensing Collective). Self-published songwriters can register directly with The MLC for free, but a Publishing Administrator can do it on your behalf and also collect from societies worldwide.

<ul> <li><strong>Publishing Administrator:</strong> Services like Songtrust, TuneCore Publishing, or your PRO's publishing arm (if they offer it) act as your publisher to register your songs and collect mechanical royalties from The MLC and other international sources.</li> <li><strong>Registration:</strong> Your publishing administrator will handle the complex process of registering your songs and collecting royalties globally.</li> </ul> The publishing administrator typically takes a small percentage (e.g., 10-15%) of the collected mechanical royalties, but this is a worthwhile fee for the global reach and administrative burden they manage.