Unclaimed MLC Royalties: What Independent Artists Should Check

Why royalties become unmatched

Streaming services send usage and royalty information to The MLC. When the song registration is missing, incomplete, or difficult to connect to a recording, the money may not reach the correct rightsholder.

• The song was never registered
• Writer or publisher shares do not add up
• The recording is not matched to the composition
• Names or identifiers differ between systems

What to check first

Start with your released catalog, not your bank statement. Confirm each song title, writer, split, publisher, ISRC, and ISWC where available. Then look for unmatched recordings tied to the same release.

• Create or confirm your MLC Member account
• Register every missing musical work
• Use Matching and Claiming tools
• Review the catalog again each month

What RightsPay does

RightsPay organizes possible gaps and turns them into a clear checklist. It is an independent educational tool and does not submit claims or collect royalties for you.