Mechanical royalties are paid by Streaming Services (Spotify, Apple Music) and Physical Manufacturers (Vinyl/CD plants). In the US, this money is sent to The MLC (Mechanical Licensing Collective).1 To collect it, you cannot rely on ASCAP or DistroKid; you must either register with The MLC directly or use a Publishing Administrator like Audiobulb.
In the era of vinyl, “Mechanicals” were simple: every time a factory pressed a record, they owed the songwriter a fee for the “mechanical reproduction” of the music.
Today, every time someone clicks “play” on a digital song, it counts as a digital reproduction. This generates a Mechanical Royalty. If you have thousands of streams but your bank account isn’t growing, you likely haven’t set up your collection pipeline for these specific fees.
1. Who exactly pays Mechanical Royalties?
There are three main sources that pay these royalties:
- Interactive Streaming Services (DSPs): Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, and Amazon Music.2 (Note: “Non-interactive” services like Pandora Radio pay different royalties).
- Digital Download Stores: iTunes and Amazon MP3.3
- Physical Media: Companies that manufacture your Vinyl, CDs, or Cassettes.
2. The “US vs. The World” Problem
The way you collect this money depends heavily on where the listener is located.
In the United States:
Since the Music Modernization Act was passed, all digital mechanical royalties in the US are paid to The MLC (Mechanical Licensing Collective).4 If you are not registered with The MLC, your US mechanical money is sitting in a “holding pen.”
Outside the United States:
Every country has its own mechanical society (e.g., MCPS in the UK, GEMA in Germany). Unlike the US, international societies often bundle mechanicals and performance royalties together, making it nearly impossible for a DIY artist to collect them without a global publisher.
3. How to Collect Your Mechanical Royalties
You have two main paths to getting paid.
Path A: The DIY Route (Hard)
- Register with The MLC: You must apply, be verified, and manually register every song in your catalog.
- Register with HFA: The Harry Fox Agency handles “Physical” mechanicals and some specialized digital ones.5
- Register Internationally: You would need to join societies in every major music market (UK, Japan, France, etc.) which often requires a local address or high fees.
Path B: The Publishing Administrator (Easy)
When you sign up with a service like Audiobulb, we act as your global representative.
- We link your songs to The MLC and HFA.
- We use our Sub-Publishing network to collect your mechanicals from the UK, Europe, Asia, and South America.
- You receive one consolidated check instead of 50 different micro-payments.
Comparison: Who Collects What?
| Source | Distributor (DistroKid) | PRO (ASCAP/BMI) | Publisher (Audiobulb) |
| Mechanicals | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ YES |
| Performance | ❌ No | ✅ YES | ✅ YES |
| Master Share | ✅ YES | ❌ No | ❌ No |
FAQ: Mechanical Royalty Collection
Does Spotify pay me mechanicals directly?
No. Spotify pays the total “mechanical pool” to collection societies (like The MLC). Those societies then wait for a Publisher or Songwriter to claim the money. If you don’t claim it, it eventually gets redistributed to the world’s biggest artists.
What is the “Statutory Rate”?
For physical sales (CDs/Vinyl), the US government sets a rate (currently 12.4 cents per song, per copy). For streaming, the rate is much smaller and is calculated based on a complex formula of the streaming service’s total revenue.
If I am a producer, do I get mechanicals?
Yes, if you have a “Songwriter” credit on the track. Producers usually negotiate a percentage of the publishing, which includes a share of the mechanical royalties.6
Summary: Don’t Leave it to Chance
Mechanical royalties are not “extra” money—they are a core part of your earnings. If you have a song with over 10,000 streams, you already have mechanical royalties waiting for you.
Your Next Step: Are you registered with The MLC? If not, you are missing your US mechanicals. Let Audiobulb manage your Mechanical collection so you can stop worrying about paperwork and start getting paid for every single stream.