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You might have heard about the
Music Modernization Act of 2018

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or 'MMA" for short.

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But what does this
law actually do

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and how will it impact
the music industry?

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The MMA updates
U.S. copyright law

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to make music
licensing fairer

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for creators and more
efficient for music providers.

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It changes the way
interactive streaming services

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and digital download
providers get licenses

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for musical works
and how songwriters

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are paid when their music is
used or sold on those services.

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It also brings pre-1972
sound recordings,

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which were previously
not protected

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by federal
copyright law,

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partially into the
federal copyright system

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and provides a way for
these rights holders to enforce

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their rights when
their works are infringed.

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Finally, it allows music
producers, mixers,

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and sound engineers to
directly receive royalties,

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through the use of a
"letter of direction"

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sent to SoundExchange,
a non -profit organization

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that administers
royalty payments

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for certain digital uses
of sound recordings.

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The MMA updates
music licensing

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for the digital
age in many ways,

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but perhaps the most important
change is the creation of

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the Mechanical Licensing
Collective or "MLC",

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a government-designated
non-profit that will collect

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and distribute royalties
when music is used on

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interactive streaming or digital
download services pursuant

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to a statutory license.

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These royalties are
different than those paid

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by performing rights
organizations, like ASCAP

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or BMI, and are also different
from sound recording royalties

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paid through SoundExchange.

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The MLC collects royalties
for the right to reproduce

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and distribute
musical works,

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not for performance rights.

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How can you make
sure you get paid?

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Starting in 2021, copyright
owners' musical works

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should be correctly
identified and matched

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in the MLC's
database to be paid.

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For more information on
identifying and matching

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your works in the MLC's
database, visit theMLC.com.

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Remember though,
registration of your works

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with the MLC is not a
stand-in for your registration

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with the Copyright Office,

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which makes
you eligible to recover

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statutory damages, attorneys'
fees, and court costs.

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You can learn more
about the MMA at

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copyright.gov/
music-modernization.

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There you'll find educational
materials, FAQs, and more.

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Thank you for watching!