Royalties
MLC Unclaimed Royalties
The MLC holds mechanical royalties it can't match to an owner. Beginning in early 2027 it starts distributing the remaining unmatched royalties by market share — so getting your works matched is how you claim your share.
Every interactive stream and download in the US generates a mechanical royalty paid through The MLC. When a work isn't registered correctly, The MLC can't match the money to its owner, so it sits in the unmatched 'black-box' pool — streaming services paid in over $424 million at The MLC's 2021 launch alone.
The 2027 distribution — why it's urgent
Beginning in early 2027, The MLC will start distributing its remaining unmatched and unclaimed blanket royalties on a pro-rata, market-share basis — starting with January 2021 and proceeding one month at a time, with statutory interest — at the close of its six-year matching window. Royalties matched to your works are paid to you; whatever stays unmatched is distributed by market share instead.
How to claim your share
You claim by registering and matching your compositions with The MLC, through its public works database, member portal, and claiming and matching tools. Notes does this for you — registering your works, matching them, and reconciling every payout so your mechanical share reaches you. Run a free royalty review to see what's unclaimed.
Good to know
MLC Unclaimed Royalties: common questions
- How do I check if my songs are matched at The MLC?
- Search The MLC's public works database. If a work isn't matched to you, registering and claiming it connects the royalties to your account. Notes handles registration and matching across your whole catalog.
- What happens to unclaimed MLC royalties in 2027?
- Beginning in early 2027, The MLC starts distributing its remaining unmatched and unclaimed blanket royalties — from January 2021 onward, one month at a time — on a pro-rata, market-share basis with statutory interest. Matching your works beforehand is how your share is paid to you.
- How long does MLC matching take?
- Once your compositions are registered, The MLC identifies and matches royalties to them over the following months. A catalog review surfaces what's still unmatched so it can be claimed.