The Mechanical Licensing Collective has partnered with the Recording Academy to host a dozen webinars across the country to educate chapter members of the MLCs mandate to match and distribute unpaid royalties to rights holders.
Each webinar will be tailored to a specific market, including Nashville, New York City and Los Angeles, and will be hosted by MLC representatives who will give a full rundown on the importance of the new agency, which recently made its first distribution of mechanical royalties to rights holders.
"We are thrilled to work with the Academy on this webinar series, which builds on our ongoing efforts to reach as many potential MLC Members as possible, provide them with the information they need to join our organization and help position themselves to receive the digital audio mechanical royalties they have earned and deserve," said Kris Ahrend, CEO of The MLC.
Added Daryl P. Friedman, chief advocacy officer of the Recording Academy: "Academy members were so active in passage of the Music Modernization Act, they should now benefit from The MLC that the Act created. We're pleased to partner with The MLC to reach our membership of creators far and wide and ultimately get royalties into their hands."
The first webinar took place on Tuesday (May 4) for Memphis members, while across the state in Nashville an event is slated for May 17. Academy members will receive a registration link in advance of their local webinar. See the full list below:
Memphis Chapter / May 4
Nashville Chapter / May 17, 2 p.m. CT
Chicago Chapter / May 25, 11:30 a.m. CT
San Francisco Chapter / May 25, 5:30 p.m. PT
Philadelphia Chapter / May 26, 4 p.m. ET
New York Chapter / June 8, 12:30 p.m. ET
Pacific Northwest Chapter / June 15, 3 p.m. PT
Texas Chapter / June 16, 3:30 p.m. CT
Los Angeles Chapter / June 16, TIME TBD
Florida Chapter / June 23, 12:30 p.m. ET
Atlanta Chapter / July 29, 2 p.m. ET
PETA has called on Cage The Elephant to temporarily change their name ahead of their upcoming NFL halftime performance in Munich later this week.
The band are scheduled to perform during the New England Patriots vs. Detroit Lions game this Sunday (November 15).
Ahead of the show, PETA has asked Cage The Elephant to change their name across their social media accounts to Free The Elephant for one week.
According to a press release from the animal rights group, an elephant named Okha “has spent most of her life forced to perform in the circus under the threat of punishment”. The organisation is now seeking support to “help retire her to a reputable sanctuary”.
PETA also alleges that Okha is “currently being hauled around in a trailer with an exhibitor, Brian Franzen”, who supposedly “has a history of felony cruelty to animals charges” and “was caught on camera yanking and striking an elephant with a bullhook”.
In a letter addressed to Cage The Elephant, PETA wrote: “There ain’t no rest for Okha. We think you’d agree that she deserves the chance to spend her remaining years in peace with care, dignity, and respect.
“Lending a rendition of your iconic name for a short while could… help us come a little closer to ending animal cruelty in circuses.”
PETA added that it has already held more than “30 demonstrations on Okha’s behalf, contacted venues hosting animal acts, and rallied tens of thousands of supporters to call for her retirement”.
The group is also asking the public to “call on venues to stop hosting circuses that use animals and help retire Okha to a reputable sanctuary where she could roam expansive habitats, forage, receive expert veterinary care, and have the companionship of other elephants”.
Cage The Elephant have not yet made a public statement about the request, and NME has reached out to the band for a response. Franzen has also not issued a public response to the allegations made by PETA.
The request follows a previous approach by PETA to Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant, asking him to temporarily adopt the name ‘Robert Plant Wool’ to help promote alternatives to sheep’s wool.
PETA has also previously urged Nintendo to redesign the popular Mario Kart World character Cow, claiming that its current appearance encourages animal cruelty.
Meanwhile, Cage The Elephant recently revealed details of their upcoming album ‘Dying In Reverse’, which is set to arrive on February 5, 2027, through Big Loud Rock. Fans can pre-order the record here.
The band are also preparing for a UK and European tour in 2027. You can check out the full list of dates here and find any remaining tickets here.
