Publishing Admin & The MLC
Mechanical royalties for the composition — the check most artists never collect.
What it is
The MLC (The Mechanical Licensing Collective) collects and pays MECHANICAL royalties for U.S. streams and downloads of the composition. A publishing administrator (Songtrust, Sentric, and others) is a service that registers your works globally and collects publishing royalties for you for a cut.
When you need it
Once your music is (or is about to be) on streaming/download platforms in the U.S.
Registering directly with The MLC as a self-administered songwriter is designed to be free to the songwriter. Publishing admins instead take a percentage of what they collect (and sometimes a fee). Verify current terms.
Where artists lose money
A stream generates a mechanical royalty AND a performance royalty. Your PRO handles the performance side; The MLC handles the mechanical side. Skip The MLC (or an admin that covers it) and you never collect the mechanical half of your streaming publishing money.
What a publishing admin actually does
A publishing administrator registers your compositions with collection societies worldwide, chases down mechanical and performance royalties across territories, and pays them to you — in exchange for a percentage of what they collect.
It does NOT take ownership of your songs (that's the difference between admin and a traditional publishing deal). You keep your copyrights; they just administer collection.
For a purely U.S., self-administered artist, registering directly with The MLC and your PRO can cover a lot. An admin becomes valuable as your international footprint grows.
A publishing ADMIN administers collection for a cut and does not take your copyright. A publishing DEAL may involve giving up a share of ownership. Read every agreement.
Don't double-register
If you use a publishing admin that registers you with The MLC on your behalf, you generally should NOT also self-register directly with The MLC — that can create conflicting claims.
Pick one path per work: either self-administer, or use an admin. Verify how your chosen admin handles MLC registration.
Official links
- The MLCwww.themlc.com
- Songtrustwww.songtrust.com
- Sentric Musicsentric.com