Music Modernization Act A ‘Countdown to Modernity’ – Progress Chart For Mechanical Licensing Collective

In this piece, the people at Music Technology Policy provide a chart listing the key events in the necessary path to launch in order for the Mechanical Licensing Collective as needed by the recently ratified Music Modernization Act.

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Guest post by Editor Charlie of Music Technology Policy

As best we can tell from the outside looking in, this chart has the dates for key events in the critical path to launch for the Mechanical Licensing Collective as required by the Music Modernization Act–the “Countdown to Modernity.”

This chart is a work in progress, and if anyone sees anything wrong in it or something that should be clarified or corrected, please let us know. It should be considered a draft, but we hope that it will solidify over the next few weeks.

To our knowledge, no one else has published a chart like this. The main takeaway from this chart should be the clock is ticking and time is going by. Our prediction? Time will become the MLC’s biggest enemy, if that hasn’t already happened in the drafting of the Music Modernization Act. What we don’t see in the MMA is any discussion of what happens if a deadline is blown for whatever reason.

But mark your calendars–we see the first key date as January 7, 2019. That’s 64 days from now and holidays count.

ARTIST RIGHTS WATCH
COUNTDOWN TO MECHANICAL LICENSING COLLECTIVE LAUNCH
WEEK 4

KEY DATES SCHEDULE FROM ENACTMENT DATE (10/11/18)

TO LICENSE AVAILABILITY DATE (1/1/21)

EVENT	ACCCOMPLISHED	WHO OWNS?	TIME EXPIRED BEFORE LAD	TIME REMAINING TO LAD
REQUEST FILING TO BE MLC	STATUS UNKNOWN—Deadline 1/7/2019	COPYRIGHT OFFICE	90 DAYS	726 days
DESIGNATION OF MLC	STATUS UNKNOWN—Deadline 7/7/2019	COPYRIGHT OFFICE	270 days	545 days
FORMATION OF MLC NONPROFIT	STATUS UNKNOWN	MLC	4 weeks	112 weeks and 5 days
SUBSTITUTION OF BLANKET LICENSE FOR ALL EXISTING COMPULSORY LICENSES	AUTOMATIC 1/1/2021	COPYRIGHT OFFICE		789 days
MLC BUDGET	STATUS UNKNOWN (Assume deadline of 1/7/19)	MLC/DLC/CRJ		112 weeks and 5 days
INITIATE ASSESSMENT PROCEEDING w/CRJs	[MUST COMMENCE NO LATER THAN 7/7/2019] STATUS UNKNOWN	MLC/DLC/CRJ	271 days	545 days
ASSESSMENT RULING	[PUBLISHED IN FR NO LATER THAN 7/7/2020]	MLC/DLC/CRJ	637 days	179 days
APPEAL OF ASSESSMENT RULING	30 DAYS AFTER PUBLICATION OF ASSESSMENT RULING	MLC/DLC/CRJ/ DCCOA	667 days	149 days
MLC BUSINESS PLAN	STATUS UNKNOWN (Assume deadline of 1/7/19)	MLC/CO	90 DAYS	726 days
ANNOUNCED BOARD NOMINEES	STATUS UNKNOWN Update on Nominations (Deadline November 15, 2018): NMPAand NSAI are accepting nominations for board seats. Songwriter board selection by Steve Bogard (NSAI), Rick Carnes (SGA), Lynn Gillespie Chater (SGA), Dallas Davidson (BMI), Chris DeStefano (NSAI), Bob DiPiero (BMI), Dan Foliart (ASCAP), Adam Gorgoni (SONA), Michele Lewis (SONA), Paul Williams (ASCAP) (Assume deadline of 1/7/19)	MLC	90 DAYS	726 days
APPOINTED BOARD	STATUS UNKNOWN (Assume deadline of 1/7/19)	MLC/CO	90 DAYS	726 days
APPOINTED DLC	STATUS UNKNOWN—Deadline 7/7/2019	COPYRIGHT OFFICE	270 days	545 days
ENGAGED MLC VENDORS	STATUS UNKNOWN (Assume deadline of 1/7/19)	MLC	90 DAYS	726 days
PAID MLC VENDORS	STATUS UNKNOWN (ASSUME 7/7/2020 IF NO APPEAL OF ASSESSMENT)	MLC	270 days	545 days
ANNOUNCE MLC DATA STANDARDS	STATUS UNKNOWN	MLC/DLC
REGULATIONS*	STATUS UNKNOWN	COPYRIGHT OFFICE
COMMENTS AND REPLY COMMENTS ON REGULATIONS	STATUS UNKNOWN	ALL
EXPLANATION OF OPERATIONS: HOW TO REGISTER WITH MLC AND COST OF REGISTRATION	STATUS UNKNOWN (Assume deadline of 1/7/19)	MLC/CO	90 DAYS	726 days
REGISTRATION START DATE	STATUS UNKNOWN