What are Mechanical Rights?

What are mechanical rights?

Mechanical rights cover the reproduction of a song’s composition. This relates ti the lyrics and melody but not the master recording.

They are triggered when a composition is:

– Pressed onto vinyl or CDs 
– Sold as a digital download 
– Reproduced as part of an interactive stream on platforms like Spotify or Apple Music

If your song is being copied or reproduced, mechanical rights are involved.

What are mechanical royalties?

Mechanical royalties are the income generated from those reproductions.

They are paid to:

– Songwriters 
– Music publishers

They are NOT  paid to the master rights holder. Streaming income from your master recording is separate.

If you wrote the song, you’re entitled to the songwriter’s share. If you have a publisher, they collect and account to you based on your agreement.

Who pays mechanical royalties?

It depends on how the music is used.

Physical products 
If a label presses CDs or vinyl, they must secure a mechanical licence and pay for each copy made. If you self-release and manufacture physical stock yourself, you take on that responsibility.

Downloads and streaming 
Streaming Platforms like Apple and Spotify obtain mechanical licences and pay royalties via collecting societies or mechanical rights organisations. Those organisations then distribute royalties to publishers and songwriters.

Streaming also generates performance royalties for the composition, which are collected separately.

Does this change by country?

Yes. Mechanical licensing and collection processes vary by territory. If you release globally, different organisations may collect royalties in different countries.