Loudr Licensing offers mechanical royalty expertise for indies

Yesterday we looked at the growing number of companies catering to the business needs of independent musicians. Another one appeared on the horizon today. Loudr’s niche is obtaining mechanical licenses for artists and labels that want to monetize song covers through online services. Its new platform for this service is called Loudr Licensing, and it is one of the only options that’s available to any artist interested in getting a mechanical license.

Mechanical licensing was previously available through Limelight, which was purchased by Google in 2011 but is shuttering in the coming months. The only other option besides Loudr is the Songfile service from Harry Fox Agency, which is adopting a rate increase starting April 20. Loudr Licensing will charge a flat fee of $15, or less for bulk licensing, plus the publisher royalties, the same rate Limelight charged.

Most other distribution services (such as TuneCore, CD Baby, or DistroKid) do not include mechanical royalties, but Loudr gives artists the option to use Loudr Licensing as a standalone while putting their music out through those other programs. CEO Chris Crawford said the company is hammering home the rebranding of Loudr as a rights-centric company: “We want the Loudr name to be associated with rights. You come to Loudr to get rights.” Just understanding the distinction between mechanical and performance royalties could give someone a headache, so focusing on this underserved niche could be a smart move for Loudr.