Mechanical rights

What are mechanical rights?

Mechanical rights is the music business term for the right of songwriters and sometimes music publishers to get paid when a musical work is copied and distributed, whether as a physical product or online through interactive streaming or downloading.

Under copyright law, mechanical rights include the right of reproduction and the right of distribution. Both are economic rights in protected musical works.

Explore more on our page on Rights in Musical Works.

Who has mechanical rights?

Mechanical rights are owned by and split between the creators of the musical work, typically the songwriters. Songwriters may also share their mechanical rights split with music publishers.

Visit our pages on Songwriter Splits and Music Publishers to learn more.

In most countries, mechanical rights are managed by CMOs called Mechanical Rights Organisations (MRO), who grant licenses to sound recording manufacturers and DSPs. These organizations pay royalties to songwriters and music publishers.

Visit our page on CMOs to learn more.

Image credit: Ann Kilpatrick