mechanical royalties from streaming in the U.S. will be processed and paid out by The MLC at no cost to songwriters or music publishers. The MLC is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of songwriters and representatives of music publishers.

The MLC's mission is to ensure songwriters, composers, lyricists, and music publishers receive their mechanical royalties from streaming and download services in the U.S. accurately and on time.

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About CEO Kris Ahrend

Kris Ahrend serves as Chief Executive Officer for The MLC, where he leads the organization’s mission to ensure songwriters, composers, lyricists, and music publishers receive their mechanical royalties from streaming and download services in the U.S. accurately and on time. Most recently, Ahrend led the development and launch of Warner Music Group’s Center of Excellence for Shared Services in Nashville, where he oversaw the operations of fifteen different functional teams providing a variety of administrative, financial, and legal services to Warner Music’s U.S.-based  publishing teams, record labels, and corporate divisions. Prior to launching the Center of Excellence,  Ahrend held a senior executive role within Warner Music, where he led a large legal, financial, and  administrative shared services organization that he helped to create.

Ahrend began his career in the music industry working in the Law Department at Sony Music, where he  provided legal services to all of Sony’s US divisions, including its publishing company. He  subsequently worked in the business and legal affairs department at Sony BMG Music Entertainment  before accepting a senior executive role at Rhino Entertainment.

A graduate of Binghamton University and the Washington & Lee School of Law, Ahrend worked as a  law clerk for the Western District of the Virginia District Court and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals  before joining the Intellectual Property & Litigation Group of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, LLP in New  York.

Ahrend is a valued member of the Nashville community. He serves on the boards of the Nashville  Chamber of Commerce and the Nashville Downtown Partnership, and is a member of the Music City  Music Council. A lifelong musician, Ahrend and his wife, Karen, have two children and live in Nashville.