Payment Basics
The usage for September 2024 will be paid in this month
December 2024
User says they had a hit song in 2014 and asks if we will pay those royalties. What do you tell them?
- Part of The MLC's mission is to distribute HUR that we received from the DSPs back in 2021
- Register your works and use the Matching Tool
- Check out the info on our the website and sign up for updates
** Don't promise any HUR payments
User reports a discrepancy between the total royalties on their statement versus the payment. Find the pathway and tell us the first step you would take.
SENIOR ONLY: User can't find a statement that matches their payment
This information is no longer transferred between HFA and The MLC
Banking and tax information
User says they received an email saying that their account is on hold for a review of their works. They need help updating their banking and tax information. Are they able to do this right now?
Yes - they can still update their banking and tax, but they won't be paid until the suspension is lifted.
Some foreign currency selections have a required minimum payment threshold set by Tipalti. Using ZT, find the threshold for a payee based in Costa Rica who wants to be paid in their country's currency (CRC) via wire transfer.
Equivalent of $1,030
(ZT: International Payment Options)
Which Processing Type would be used to classify 2021 royalties on a November 2024 statement?
Reprocessing
User says they didn't get paid for a song that's registered to them. Find the pathway in IHC
Payment Tier 2 Only, column BL
A US-based user asks you if we withhold taxes each month for the IRS. What do you tell them?
The MLC will issue 1099s to applicable payees at the beginning of each year. They will use this to file their taxes.
This is the payment status that means the payee was not payable during the distribution / there was an issue with the payee account
Deferred
A Member has called us five times in the last few months to ask when we will distribute Amazon Phono III HUR. What can resource would be helpful for them?
Distribution Notes for Historic Activities
Explain the Unclaimed Accrued Royalties distribution (formerly "EMS") to me
[]
User asks "Why didn't I get paid?" Name the general reasons why this could be possible.
- works weren't captured in the snapshot
- didn't meet the threshold
- Member is not payable (missing banking/tax info, suspended, etc)
- didn't generate any royalties
A user reports that they are getting an error while filling out Banking Information - "The email does not match the one on file." What do you do to investigate?
Check Tipalti and make sure that they are typing the same email on Tab 1 (Address) as they are on Tab 3 (Tax Form)
User reports not receiving payment that is posted in their Portal. What do you do to investigate?
A user reports that they should have been paid more for a song released in 2022. What are three things you should communicate and/or investigate before asking for proof of usage?
- Explain that 2022 will be adjusted from Phono II rates to Phono III
- Check the matches
- Check for duplicate work registrations
- Confirm that the correct shares were captured in the relevant snapshot
Today is November 8th, 2024. Stuart claimed his share on a work that peaked on the charts in 2019. They ask "When will I get paid for this work?"
Give them a thorough answer that sets clear expectations.
Assuming the work is captured in the snapshot on 12/10, Stuart will be paid for the work in February 2024. As for 2019, Stuart should know that The MLC is in the process of distributing Phono III HUR in phases. They can check their statement each month.
User notices a negative royalty amount in their Royalties tab for November distribution. What is likely the cause, and how can you confirm your answer?
Debit; check the PAS (see pathway)
Find the payee ID for SONY/ATV DISCOS MUSIC PUB - a sub-payee under SONY/ATV's Member account
7153661
A brand new user emails you asking if we provide statements to Members, and if the statements will show them the breakdown by publisher. Which resource can you send them?
The statement formats from "What does the statement look like when I get paid?" pathway in ZT.
In your own words, explain the payment timeline
- snapshot / three month delay
- 75 day cycle
- monthly distributions
Which specific phase of the Spotify 2020 royalties were prematurely and incorrectly distributed in the October 2024 distribution due to error?
Previously partially paid
Using the Closing Balance Report, find the name and payee ID of the payee that received $45,425.25 in the July 2022 distribution.
HORIPRO, 7718156
A Member failed TIN validation. What is one common mistake that you should look for?
- Typos
- Business name in field 2, individual name in field 1
- Putting SSN in the EIN field, vice versa
User asks why the haven't received a statement yet. How do you investigate? What are the potential reasons why they might not have a statement?
Go to IHC to follow the process
1. Their works haven't been reflected in a distribution snapshot yet
2. They generated zero royalties during that usage month
3. There was an issue (e.g. mismatch)