Mechanical rights: reproduction, streaming and downloads
Mechanical rights are connected to reproduction of a musical work. In the digital environment, certain reproductions involved in streaming and downloads generate mechanical royalties depending on territory.
Who receives mechanical royalties?
They are paid to musical work rightsholders: songwriters, composers, publishers or administrators according to registered shares and mandates.
Why must the work be accurately identified?
Titles, songwriters, composers, publishers, shares, ISWC and work codes are used to match digital uses with the correct rightsholders.
The MLC in the United States
The Mechanical Licensing Collective administers the blanket mechanical license for eligible streaming and download services in the United States and pays eligible rightsholders.
CMRRA in Canada
The Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency administers music reproduction rights in Canada for represented publishers and rightsholders.
Common mistake
Do not confuse master ownership with ownership of the musical work. A phonogram producer can earn master-related revenue without owning copyright or mechanical shares in the composition.