What is a mechanical royalty?
Founder & CEO, Futureproof Music School
A mechanical royalty is a payment made to a songwriter or publisher whenever a copy of their musical composition is made. This includes physical copies like vinyl or CDs, as well as digital reproductions through streaming services and downloads. These royalties are typically paid by record labels or digital music platforms and are separate from performance royalties. Understanding mechanical royalties is essential for producers who write their own music, as they represent a significant revenue stream that you can collect whenever your songs are reproduced or streamed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I get mechanical royalties from Spotify and Apple Music streams?
Yes, but they're paid differently than traditional mechanicals. Streaming services pay mechanical royalties through agencies like the MLC (Mechanical Licensing Collective) in the US, and the rates are calculated per stream rather than per physical copy sold.
What's the difference between mechanical royalties and performance royalties?
Mechanical royalties pay you for reproducing your song (like pressing vinyl or streaming it), while performance royalties pay you when your song is played publicly (like on radio, in a club, or during a live DJ set). You can earn both types from the same track.
How do I register to collect mechanical royalties as a producer who writes beats?
Register as a songwriter with a mechanical rights organization like the MLC (US), MCPS (UK), or your country's equivalent, and make sure you're credited as a writer on every release. If you publish your own beats, you'll also want to set up as your own publisher to collect 100% of your mechanicals.
John von Seggern
Founder & CEO, Futureproof Music School
John von Seggern is the founder and CEO of Futureproof Music School. He holds an MA in digital ethnomusicology (the anthropology of music on the internet) from UC Riverside, and a BA in Music, magna cum laude, from Carleton College. A techno producer and DJ since the late 1990s, he released as John von on his own net.label Xeriscape Records while working at Native Instruments, where he co-authored the MASSIVE synth manual. He contributed sound design to Pixar's WALL-E (2008), was a member of Jon Hassell's late-career Studio Group on Hassell's final two albums, ran Icon Collective's online program with Max Pote for eight years before Icon closed in May 2025, and authored three books on music technology including Laptop Music Power!. He architected Kadence, the AI music coach at the core of Futureproof.
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