Does the Statutory Mechanical Rate Change Depending on the Territory/Country My Song is Distributed In?

Yes - statutory mechanical rates vary depending on the location/territory.

The major difference between the majority of the world and the United States system is that the duration of the track is not a factor in the calculation of mechanicals due. In the United States and Canada, the statutory mechanical royalty rate is 9.1 cents per song or 1.75 cents per minute of music, whichever is greater.

Instead, most countries have agreed for the mechanical royalties to be a percentage of a record’s published price to dealers.

While the United States has a separate entity for collecting mechanical royalties (the Harry Fox Agency, or HFA), in most major royalty producing territories outside of the United States and Canada, both mechanical and performance royalties will be collected and paid through the same entity.

Check out our blog for more Modern Publishing Facts on Mechanical Royalties!

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