Since launching in 2021, The MLC has focused on empowering rightsholders with unprecedented transparency, powerful tools, education-focused outreach, and responsive service. As a result, we now have more than 100,000 Members and more than 60 million works in our publicly available database. In addition, more than 20,000 creators, representatives, and industry professionals have connected with us through the Songwriter Hub.
This focus, along with our Members playing their part, has delivered real results. The MLC has processed over $5 billion in royalties. Our current average match rate for the royalties we have processed to date is over 92 percent. Of the sound recording resources that remain unmatched, fewer than 5 percent have accrued more than $1 in royalties across all periods; of the over 95 percent that have accrued less than $1, their average cumulative value is only between 5 and 6 cents each.
The metrics for our 2021 usage are even more positive. Our current average match rate for all 2021 usage is now 94 percent, with several months of 2021 usage exceeding 94 percent. Moreover, only a small fraction of the sound recording resources reported in 2021 that remain unmatched — and a similarly small fraction of unclaimed shares of works — have accrued over $100 in cumulative royalties from 2021 usage.
Although the match rates for 2021 usage continue to improve as The MLC continues to reprocess the remaining royalties, the rate of improvement has diminished over time. We are mindful that Congress did not intend for The MLC to hold onto remaining unmatched and unclaimed royalties indefinitely. Based on our progress to date, we intend to begin market share distributions in April 2027, starting with the remaining unclaimed accrued blanket royalties reported to The MLC for January 2021 usage. At this point, The MLC will have held (and attempted to match and distribute) the unclaimed accrued royalties from 2021 usage for at least six years — twice as long as the three-year holding period set forth in the MMA.
To see a breakdown of the remaining unclaimed accrued royalties associated with 2021 usage — including total royalty pools reported, amounts distributed or in dispute, and the remaining unclaimed accrued royalties that may be eligible for future market share distributions — view the Unclaimed Accrued Royalties Dashboard here.
