Within the Identity tab, ensure you complete your songwriter and publishing information to collect the most accurate royalties. Currently, songwriter tools are available to a limited number of songwriters. For updates on when you can access these tools, please visit tidal.com/forsongwriters and add your email address to receive notifications.
What types of publishing information and deals are supported?
TIDAL’s registration process supports the following types of publishing deals:
- Full Deal (Buy-out agreements)
- Co-publishing deals
- Publishing administration deals
- Self-publishing
I don’t have a publisher or publishing deal. What now?
To collect publishing royalties, you must either have a publishing deal (or be self-published). On the Identity page, you may register to become self-published. TIDAL has partnered with AllTrack to make the process of registering with a U.S. PRO easy, however, you may register as a publisher with any other U.S. PRO. Once you register as a self-publisher with a PRO, confirm you've successfully obtained your publisher IPI by adding that information back to TIDAL Artist Home.
Can I enter multiple publishing identities?
If you have a co-publishing deal, you may enter multiple publishing identities to reflect the terms of your deal. Select ‘Co-publishing deal’ in the ‘Type of publishing info’ and follow the prompts.
If you are self-published, you must only register one identity.
What is the MLC?
The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC) is a nonprofit organization that administers blanket mechanical licenses to eligible streaming and download services (digital service providers or DSPs) in the United States. The MLC collects the royalties due under those licenses from the DSPs and pays songwriters, composers, lyricists, and music publishers. The MLC's services are free for all of its members.
If you are a songwriter who does not have a publisher or administrator, or if some of your songs are self-published (even if you do have a publisher or administrator), you can independently sign up to become a member of The MLC and receive your royalties directly from The MLC.
Why do I need to become a member of the MLC (Mechanical Licensing Collective)?
Becoming a member of the MLC enables you to collect mechanical royalties in the United States from DSPs and download services.
How do I become a member of the MLC?
You can review the process here: https://www.themlc.com/membership
Within your Identity page, there is a handy link-out to the MLC to check to see if you are already a member, and how to become a member now if necessary.
The MLC also offers a public search database that enhances transparency by allowing users to view matched and unmatched works. You can access it here: MLC Search Database.