How to download and read your MLC royalty statement
An MLC royalty statement shows the digital mechanical royalties The MLC paid you for a month of streaming use. The MLC issues statements about 75 days after each month ends, in the Royalties section of the Member Hub. Statements come as .tsv files in two layouts: Royalty Detail, one line per sound recording use, and Work Summary, one line per work per DSP.
Where to get it
- Sign in to The MLC Portal and open your member view.
- Go to Royalties > Statements.
- Choose the payee and usage period, then continue to download.
- Pick the Royalty Detail format and the Consolidated file type, then download.
- The MLC emails you a link to a .tsv file. Save it and give it to Roy as is.
Good to know: the emailed link expires after 15 minutes. If it does, just request it again. Roy reads both layouts, but Royalty Detail is the better download, so pick it over Work Summary.
Menus change, so check the official help page if a step looks different.
Official help page:
How to read it
- Royalty Detail shows every use: a work with 5,000 plays has 5,000 lines, so files get big.
- Work Summary totals each work by DSP.
- Consolidated puts everything in one file; Individual keeps separate files.
- Each statement comes with a Payee Summary: beginning balance, total earnings, amount payable, and ending balance.
What file to give Roy
Roy reads CSV, TSV, TXT, and Excel (XLS/XLSX) line by line. PDF works but gives a summary only. Zipped CSVs are fine, but unzip first if the zip holds more than one file.
FAQ
What is an MLC royalty statement?
An MLC royalty statement is the monthly report of digital mechanical royalties The MLC pays its Members, issued about 75 days after each month ends.
What is the difference between Royalty Detail and Work Summary?
Royalty Detail shows each sound recording use from DSP usage reports. Work Summary totals royalties at the musical work level, one line per DSP for each work.
Why did my MLC download link stop working?
The MLC says the emailed download link expires after 15 minutes. Repeat the download steps under Royalties > Statements to get a new link.
Check it with Roy
Upload the file at royanalyst.com and Roy gives you a plain-English statement check: what you earned, from where, and what looks worth a closer look. Get started free.
Not a legal or accounting audit.
DistroKid, CD Baby, TuneCore, ASCAP, BMI, The MLC and other names are trademarks of their owners, used only to describe their statements. Roy isn't affiliated with or endorsed by them.
— Roy