Can Distributors Collect Mechanical Royalties?

 Mechanical royalties are payments for the reproduction or distribution of your music, including downloads, physical copies, and streaming. While traditionally collected by mechanical rights agencies or publishers, many modern distributors now offer mechanical royalty collection services as part of their packages.

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1. How Distributors Handle Mechanical Royalties

a) Basic Distribution

• Some distributors only deliver your music to streaming platforms and collect master royalties (your share from streams or sales).

• They may not automatically track or collect mechanical royalties — meaning you would need a PRO or mechanical rights society to collect them.

b) Distribution With Mechanical Royalty Collection

• Certain distributors (or add-on services) collect mechanical royalties globally for digital downloads and streams.

• They often partner with mechanical rights organizations in various countries to ensure songwriters get paid for reproductions.

Examples of distributors that handle mechanical royalties:

• CD Baby – Offers “Publishing Administration” to collect mechanical royalties worldwide.

• DistroKid – Has an add-on to collect mechanical royalties in the US.

• TuneCore Publishing Administration – Collects worldwide mechanical royalties on your behalf.

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2. What Mechanical Royalties Cover

Distributors that offer this service typically collect royalties for:

• Digital downloads – iTunes, Amazon Music, Google Play

• Physical sales – CDs, vinyl

• Interactive streaming – Spotify, Apple Music (part of streaming revenue split)

• Covers – When other artists reproduce your song

Note: Mechanical royalties are separate from master royalties, which are payments for the actual recording.

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3. Advantages of Using a Distributor for Mechanical Royalties

1. Simplifies Administration – You don’t have to register separately with multiple mechanical rights organizations worldwide.

2. Global Collection – Distributors with publishing administration can collect royalties from dozens of territories.

3. Combined Reporting – You get consolidated statements for both streaming income and mechanical royalties, making financial tracking easier.

4. Saves Time – Eliminates the need to chase individual mechanical rights societies in each country.

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4. Things to Consider

• Not All Distributors Offer This – Check if mechanical royalties are included or require a separate subscription.

• Percentage or Fees – Distributors may take a small percentage or monthly fee for mechanical royalty administration.

• Songwriter Ownership – Make sure you own or have the rights to the compositions; distributors can only collect royalties on songs you have legal authority over.

• Metadata Accuracy – Proper song credits and splits are critical. Errors can delay or reduce royalty payments.

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5. Key Takeaways

• Many distributors can collect mechanical royalties, but some only handle master royalties.

• Services like CD Baby, TuneCore, and DistroKid offer mechanical royalty administration.

• Always verify fees, coverage, and metadata requirements before choosing a distributor.

• Using a distributor for mechanical royalties simplifies global collection and ensures you get paid for reproductions.

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Conclusion:
Yes, distributors can collect mechanical royalties, but it depends on their services and add-ons. Using a distributor with mechanical royalty administration allows independent musicians to maximize income from streams, downloads, and reproductions worldwide, without needing to navigate multiple rights organizations manually. Always confirm what your distributor covers, and ensure your song credits and splits are correct to avoid lost royalties.