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Mechanical Royalty Calculator

Calculate mechanical royalties at the US statutory rate.

How this model works

Inputs become a scenario—not a promise

Inputs

Units or uses and the selected statutory or contractual rate

Model

Multiplies eligible uses by the entered rate and share assumptions

Result

A mechanical-royalty scenario

Assumptions and limits

Rates, eligibility, controlled-composition clauses, territories, formats, administration, and ownership must be verified for the use.

Read: Mechanical Royalties
Total Mechanical Royalties Owed
$124.00
on 1,000 units × $0.12 per unit
Writer Share (50%)
$62.00
Publisher Share (50%)
$62.00
Rate Breakdown
Base statutory rate (songs ≤ 5:00)$0.12
Per song rate$0.12
Based on the US statutory mechanical rate of $0.124 per song per unit (for songs under 5 minutes). Physical and permanent downloads are subject to mechanical royalties; interactive streaming uses a different formula.

Common questions

How much are mechanical royalties per song?

The US statutory rate is 12.4 cents per song per unit for physical copies and permanent downloads, applying to songs of five minutes or less. That means 1,000 CDs with ten of your songs generates $1,240 in mechanicals. The rate is set for the 2024-2027 period and adjusts over time, so verify the current figure with the Copyright Royalty Board or the MLC.

What is the mechanical royalty rate for songs over 5 minutes?

Songs longer than five minutes earn a per-minute rate instead of the flat rate — 2.39 cents per minute or fraction of a minute under the current statutory schedule. A 6:30 song therefore counts as seven minutes, or about 16.7 cents per unit. This long-song bump only applies to physical copies and downloads; streaming mechanicals are calculated under a separate formula.

Who pays mechanical royalties and how do I collect them?

Whoever reproduces the song owes the royalty — a label pressing CDs, a download store, or a streaming service. For US streaming, the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) collects and distributes these royalties. If you own your publishing, register your works at themlc.com; without registration, your streaming mechanicals sit unclaimed. The MLC holds substantial unmatched royalties for exactly this reason.

Do streams pay mechanical royalties?

Yes. Interactive streaming generates both a performance royalty, collected through your PRO, and a mechanical royalty, collected in the US through the MLC. Streaming mechanicals use a different formula than the flat physical rate and commonly average fractions of a cent per stream. Registering with both your PRO and the MLC is the only way to collect both sides.

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