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# ‘Songwriters have been shorted nearly 1/2 billion dollars by streaming services in last decade’
- URL: https://www.hypebot.com/songwriters-have-been-shorted-nearly-1-2-billion-dollars-by-streaming-services-in-last-decade/
- Published: 2021-02-17T16:25:00.000Z
- Updated: 2021-02-17T15:03:38.000Z
- Description: Musicians and the music industry have been reacting to the news that the Mechanical Licensing Collective has received and will distribute more than $424 million in unmatched “black box’ streaming. Continue reading [https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2021/02/songwriters-have-been-shorted-nearly-1-2-bill
- Author: Bruce Houghton
- Tags: Music Business, Music Tech, Songwriting & Music Publishing, Streaming, Mechanical Licensing Collective, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-01-21 09:51

Musicians and the music industry have been reacting to the news that the Mechanical Licensing Collective has [received and will distribute more than $424 million](https://www.hypebot.com/mlc-has-424m-in-unmatched-streaming-royalties-to-pay-out/) in unmatched “black box’ streaming royalties.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/3a/95/3a957c06-c825-4057-9939-0a274cc16d23/content/images/www-hypebot-com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/mlc-logo.jpg)

No one is blaming the MLC, whose job it is to now find the rightful recipient of the $424 million.

Rather Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, and the other DSPs are being called out for the enormity of the unpaid funds and the poor matching and reporting practices that led to it.

“Let me translate this for you.: Songwriters have been shorted nearly 1/2 billion dollars by streaming services in last decade,” tweeted musician and industry critic **David Lowery.**

20 DSPs ([see list](https://www.hypebot.com/mlc-has-424m-in-unmatched-streaming-royalties-to-pay-out/)) transferred $424 million in accrued historical unmatched royalties to The MLC as required by law in order for them to seek the MMA’s limitation on liability for past infringement.

### ***“This significant amount proves just how broken the system was.”***

“Songwriters and music publishers have for years fought to ensure they were paid accurately and fully by digital streaming services. ‘Unmatched money’ has plagued the industry and today, thanks to the Music Modernization Act (MMA), we know that it amounts to just under $425 million – not including money previously paid out in multiple million dollar settlements,” wrote National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) president & CEO **David Israelite** “This significant amount proves just how broken the system was, how much the MMA was needed, and how much songwriters have to benefit from the protections it has put in place. At long last, that money can make its way to its rightful owners. This is a massive win for music creators and the streaming services themselves. The Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) obtaining this historically unmatched money, doing the research to find its owners, and giving copyright owners a transparent process to claim what is theirs is exciting progress that paves the way for the future growth of streaming that will benefit the entire industry.”

### **MORE: [MLC Has $424M In Unmatched Streaming Royalties To Pay Out](https://www.hypebot.com/mlc-has-424m-in-unmatched-streaming-royalties-to-pay-out/)**