Last February, we shared the news of our relationship with the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC), the newly-formed organization collecting digital royalties in the U.S. The MLC is a centralized database making efficient matching and distribution of royalties a reality in that territory.
In April of 2021, SOCAN received our first monthly payment from the MLC. Royalties received reflect performances in the U.S. for the month of January 2021, and will be distributed to SOCAN reproduction right clients on the next scheduled distribution date, June 15, 2021.
Keep in mind SOCAN has long-standing reciprocal agreements with more than 100 sister societies around the world. These agreements ensure that you receive all of the international reproduction and performance royalties that you’ve earned.
SOCAN will continue to receive monthly payments from the MLC for current performances, and are expecting the February 2021 payments in mid-May.
You’ll recall that the MLC also had a mandate to ingest historical data from digital service providers representing previously unmatched and unpaid performances. The MLC continues to work through this process, and plans to begin paying on previously unmatched performances this summer. Until then, payments and associated distributions will include only current performances.
It’s important that all music creators’ works are represented in the MLC database accurately and thoroughly so that they can receive all the money that they’ve earned, or will earn, in the U.S. from reproductions of their music.
Provided you’re a client of SOCAN for reproduction rights and have granted SOCAN the right to collect in the U.S on your behalf, you’re covered.
SOCAN is the only music rights organization in Canada that handles both performing and reproduction rights, and a one-stop, made-in-Canada solution, with a nearly 100-year track record of delivering your royalties on time, every time.
What more can you do as a SOCAN member?
- Make sure you’re a SOCAN Reproduction Rights client. If you’re a publisher or a self-published writer, and you aren’t yet a SOCAN reproduction rights client, contact us at reproduction@socan.com .
- Ensure all of your works are registered and up-to-date.
- Check that you’ve granted SOCAN a license to collect your reproduction rights in the United States. If you’re not sure, or would like more information, or have any questions ,contact us at reproduction@socan.com.