From Royalties to Rights: How The MLC Empowers Creators with Serona Elton

Join The MLC’s Head of Educational Partnerships, Serona Elton, as she breaks down all the ways creators get paid in the digital world. Serona shares the journey of how The MLC was created to simplify the complexities of music royalties for rightsholders, ensuring that every creator is paid for their work. Learn how mechanical royalties are generated, and explore why accurate metadata is vital to getting paid. Whether you’re a songwriter, publisher, or music industry professional, this episode is packed with must-know information to help you navigate the ever-evolving music rights landscape. 

Topics Covered and Timestamps

• [00:00:29] Introduction to the Guest
  Serona Elton introduces her role at The MLC, career, and background.
• [00:01:06] Serona's Professional Journey
  • How her interest in the music industry began.
  • Her education at the University of Miami.
  • Career milestones at leading record labels and her transition to The MLC in 2020.
• [00:04:01] What is The MLC?
  • The purpose and mission of The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC).
  • Its role in administering mechanical licenses and ensuring accurate, timely royalty payments.
• [00:06:00] Leading Educational Initiatives
  • Serona's efforts to create educational resources for professors and students, including webinars and public speaking engagements.
• [00:07:24] Why Was The MLC Created?
  • A look into the Music Modernization Act and the shift to blanket licensing for streaming services.
  • The MLC's critical role in transitioning to this improved licensing model.
• [00:13:02] The MLC vs. PROs
  • Understanding the difference between The MLC and Performance Rights Organizations (PROs).
  • How royalty collection and distribution differ between these entities.
• [00:15:38] Why Songwriters Need to Join The MLC
  • Who should join The MLC?
  • A step-by-step guide for self-administered songwriters looking to benefit.
• [00:22:30] When Will You Receive Royalties?
  • An explanation of the 75-day period for royalty payments and how it works.
• [00:27:16] Educational Resources Available
  • Tools available on the The MLC website and YouTube channel.
  • Details on the educator toolkit and student ambassador program.
• [00:31:07] How to Start With The MLC
  • Steps to join The MLC and ensure all royalties are collected, including registering songs and setting up banking details.
  • Using The MLC's advanced matching tool to maximize earnings.

Resources Mentioned:

• The MLC Website: themlc.com
• The MLC YouTube Channel: MLC YouTube
• Educator Toolkit: Available on The MLC website for integrating music business concepts into educational programs.

Key Highlights

• Learn how The MLC simplifies music licensing for streaming platforms and ensures fairness for songwriters and publishers.
• Understand the importance of metadata in music royalties and its role in the digital age.
• Actionable advice for songwriters striving to secure their rightful earnings.

 Visit themlc.com to learn more about joining The MLC, accessing educational reso

Watch all our full episodes on YouTube here and learn more about The MLC and our mission to ensure songwriters and music publishers receive their mechanical royalties from streaming and download services in the U.S. accurately and on time here.