The MLC

Announcement

11/15/2023

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About

The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC) was designated by the U.S. Register of Copyrights in July 2019 pursuant to the Music Modernization Act of 2018. The MLC is responsible for administering the new blanket compulsory license for the use of musical works by digital music services. As of January 2021, ...

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.

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Contact

Publicist

Emily Morrone

emily@rockpaperscissors.biz

646-921-0440

The MLC Introduces a New Lawyer Toolkit for Legal Professionals

NASHVILLE, TN – The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC) has released a comprehensive toolkit, prepared by The MLC’s Educational Partnerships team, tailored to assist legal advisors and members of the music publishing community, including music publishers, songwriters, composers and lyricists, in finding answers to their frequently asked questions pertaining to The MLC. The MLC’s Lawyer Toolkit, and the website page where it is accessed from, brings together helpful information and organizes it in a way to provide legal advisors with the knowledge and tools they need to navigate the world of mechanical licensing and royalties efficiently.

Key features of The MLC’s Lawyer Toolkit include:

Becoming a Member of The MLC: A guide for legal advisors and their clients on who should become a Member of The MLC and how to become a Member of The MLC.
Royalty Distribution Timeline: A timeline that details The MLC's royalty distribution process, ensuring legal advisors can advise their clients on when to expect their royalties.
Catalog Transfers: Information about how to access the procedures for catalog transfers, streamlining the process for legal advisors and their clients.
Member Tools: An overview of the comprehensive tools available to members of The MLC, enabling legal advisors to help their clients maximize their benefits.

The purpose of these materials is to provide general information about The MLC and is not intended to provide legal advice. Nothing contained within the materials should be construed as legal advice.

For more information and to access The MLC’s Lawyer Toolkit, click here.

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About the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC)  

The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC) was designated by the U.S. Register of Copyrights in July 2019 pursuant to the Music Modernization Act of 2018. The MLC is responsible for administering the blanket compulsory license for the use of musical works by digital music services. As of January 2021, mechanical royalties from streaming in the U.S. are processed and distributed 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. For more background on The MLC and its Board and Committee members, go to www.TheMLC.com.

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The MLC Introduces a New Lawyer Toolkit for Legal Professionals