Definition
The MLC
Also known as: Mechanical Licensing Collective
The US non-profit created by the Music Modernization Act to collect and distribute streaming mechanical royalties to songwriters and publishers.
Created by the Music Modernization Act of 2018 and operational since 2021, The MLC administers blanket mechanical licenses for interactive streaming services (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, etc.) in the US.
DSPs pay The MLC a lump sum; The MLC matches usage data to registered works and distributes royalties to the correct songwriters and publishers. Songs that can't be matched go into a black box of unclaimed royalties — historically hundreds of millions of dollars.
If you're a US-based songwriter, registering your works with The MLC is non-optional. It's free.