US Mechanical (MLC)
Free to claim yourselfCollected by: The Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC)
Streaming mechanical royalties in the US are collected by The MLC. You can register directly and for free — a publishing admin is optional here.
Calculator
Publishing Royalty Recovery Diagnostic
Most independent artists leave publishing royalties uncollected — not because the money is hard to find, but because it sits across five separate pools, each collected by a different body. This free diagnostic walks you through all five and flags which ones you may be missing. We are honest about it: some pools you can claim yourself for free, and only international / foreign black-box recovery typically needs a paid admin.
The 5 royalty pools, explained
Publishing income is fragmented. Here is each pool, who collects it, and whether you can claim it yourself for free or whether an administrator typically adds value.
Performance (PRO/CMO)
Free to claim yourselfCollected by: Performing Rights Organizations / Collective Management Orgs
Performance royalties from streaming, radio, and live require PRO/CMO affiliation. Domestic affiliation is inexpensive; overseas collection is where value is often lost.
Neighbouring Rights
Free to claim yourselfCollected by: SoundExchange (US) + foreign neighbouring-rights societies
US digital-radio neighbouring rights are collected free via SoundExchange. Overseas neighbouring rights typically require a collection agent.
Foreign Black-Box
Where an admin helpsCollected by: Foreign societies (held in undistributed "black-box" pools)
Royalties earned abroad that cannot be matched to a rights holder accumulate in black-box pools. Direct CMO registration via a sub-publisher is the realistic way to recover them — this is the monetizable wedge.
YouTube Content ID
Where an admin helpsCollected by: YouTube Content ID (via a distributor or admin)
Unclaimed user-generated uploads of your music can generate ad revenue you never see unless your catalog is registered in Content ID.
What's free vs. what needs an admin
The single most important honesty point: you do not need to pay anyone to claim US mechanicals or US neighbouring rights. The monetizable wedge — the place a publishing admin or sub-publisher earns their commission — is recovering royalties earned overseas.
| Royalty pool | Claim it free yourself? | Where value is lost |
|---|---|---|
| US Mechanical (MLC) | Yes — register directly | Only if you never register with The MLC. |
| Performance (PRO/CMO) | Yes — register directly | Overseas performance royalties without CMO coverage. |
| Neighbouring Rights | Yes — register directly | Foreign neighbouring rights without a collection agent. |
| Foreign Black-Box | No — admin / sub-publisher helps | Undistributed foreign pools with no sub-publisher. |
| YouTube Content ID | No — admin / sub-publisher helps | Unclaimed user uploads not registered in Content ID. |
Estimates are for informational purposes only and are not financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Actual offers and figures vary by provider, contract terms, and current market conditions.
Publishing admins to consider
If you have international listeners and no sub-publisher abroad, a publishing administrator can register your compositions with foreign societies and chase black-box money on your behalf, usually for a commission on what they collect. The options below are listed for information; we mark any unsigned partnerships as informational links, not endorsements.
Songtrust Informational
Global publishing administration with broad society coverage.
Publicly cited at ~15% on performance / ~20% on mechanical, ~$100 setup.
Learn more → Sentric Music Informational
Publishing admin with no setup fee.
Publicly cited at ~20% commission, no setup fee.
CD Baby Pro Publishing Informational
Publishing administration bundled with distribution.
Kobalt (KOSIGN) Informational
Self-serve publishing admin from a major independent publisher.
Frequently asked questions
Is The MLC free to register with?
Yes. The Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) collects US streaming mechanical royalties and lets songwriters and self-administered publishers register directly at no cost. A paid publishing admin is optional for this pool — you can claim it yourself for free.
Do I need to pay anyone to collect SoundExchange neighbouring rights?
No. SoundExchange collects US digital-radio neighbouring rights (for the sound recording) and you can register with them directly for free. Overseas neighbouring rights are different — those typically require a collection agent or society membership abroad.
What is "black-box" royalty money?
Black-box royalties are amounts earned abroad that foreign societies cannot match to a specific rights holder, so they sit undistributed in collective pools. If you have international listeners but no sub-publisher registered with those societies, this is where money commonly goes uncollected. Recovering it usually means direct CMO registration via a sub-publisher — the area where a paid admin genuinely adds value.
What does YouTube Content ID have to do with publishing royalties?
When other users upload videos containing your music, YouTube Content ID can monetize those uploads — but only if your recordings or compositions are registered in the system, usually through a distributor or admin. Unclaimed uploads can generate ad revenue you never see.
What does a PRO actually collect for me?
A Performing Rights Organization (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, GMR, or an overseas CMO like PRS or SOCAN) collects performance royalties generated when your compositions are streamed, broadcast on radio, or performed live. Domestic affiliation is inexpensive; the gap most artists miss is collecting performance royalties earned overseas.
Can this tool tell me exactly how much money I am owed?
No — and any tool that claims to is guessing. This is a qualitative diagnostic that flags which royalty pools you may not be collecting and whether each is free to claim or needs an admin. Actual recoverable amounts depend on your catalog, streams, territories, and the societies involved.