The MLC completed our tenth distribution of the year, and 19th overall, on time on Friday, October 14th. This month's distribution primarily covered newly reported usage that took place in July of 2022. The total of all royalty pools reported to The MLC for this cycle was slightly more than $63.8 million. We were able to match 85 percent of that amount to songs currently registered in our database. (Our current match rate for all periods through last month’s distribution has now surpassed 89 percent.) After deducting royalties for usage covered by voluntary licenses maintained by DSPs with rightsholders, we collected approximately $61.1 million in royalties and distributed almost $45.5 million to our Members.

The remaining royalties still pending distribution break down as follows:

• $9.5 million in royalties for uses we have not been able to match to registered works; 
• $5.6 million in royalties for shares of matched works that have not yet been registered (or claimed) by our Members; and
• $469k in matched royalties that are on hold.

In addition, The MLC also distributed another $4.4 million in blanket royalties from previously unmatched or unclaimed uses that we were able to match — through reprocessing — to data submitted to us after we completed the initial distribution cycle for that usage.

This month, we distributed approximately $208k in newly matched historical royalties from Spotify and the other DSPs we have previously begun to distribute. The amount of matched royalties we distributed does not include any amounts that were matched to works owned by rightsholders who were identified as parties to a previous settlement with Spotify. To catch up on the progress we’ve shared about historical unmatched royalties so far, you can find all the updates here.

Please be advised that The MLC is immediately suspending its Statutory Terminations Notice and Dispute Policy pending the outcome of the rulemaking proceeding initiated by the U.S. Copyright Office in its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published on October 25, 2022 (available here).

Further, effective with the first distribution of blanket license royalties related to October 2022 usage, The MLC will place on hold ALL royalties associated with work shares previously subject to The MLC’s Statutory Terminations Notice and Dispute Policy unless the relevant parties submit to The MLC either (1) a Letter of Direction reflecting agreement as to the proper payee, or (2) an order from a tribunal with appropriate jurisdiction over a termination claim that indicates the proper payee.

Until further notice, parties with ownership disputes, whether or not involving statutory terminations, should consult The MLC’s Ownership Dispute Policy and utilize its procedures as needed.

On October 19 we held our second Annual Membership Meeting, sharing key metrics from the last year and announcing that three current members of The MLC Board of Directors — Tim Cohan, Scott Cutler, and Kara DioGuardi — were each selected to serve a second three-year term on the Board. If you weren’t able to join us, you can watch the recording below or read a full summary of the meeting here.

Members, have you made sure all of your songs are registered? Have you logged into the Portal and used the Claiming and Matching Tools? To make the most of your MLC membership, follow this checklist to make sure you’re getting paid the royalties you have earned!

Not Sure How to Use Our Tools?

Check out the following educational videos about how to use our Member tools, and learn more about additional Member resources here.

The Support Team Is Here For You!

Email: Start here

Call: 615-488-3653

Chat: In the Portal