Infinite Licensing in Gen-AI Music Ecosystems will Create Fairer Music Value Calculations for Artists and Rightsholders
Infinite licensing (IL) will be the most effective and fair system of music rights licensing and remuneration in the gen-AI music era.
I believe we will see clear elements of it by 2030.
I appreciate Abbi Press’s perspective on the human element of music licensing. As a professional in the licensing space, she raises a number of important issues that would have to be acknowledged—then solved? ignored? or avoided?—for any compelling infinite licensing (IL) system to become widely adopted.
This is why I predict that we will not see a system close to my vision of IL until around 2030.
I believe that this is an important conversation, because at the core of it, the question is “Do current licensing frameworks benefit music creators?”
Even so-called ethically-sourced and ethically-trained AI music ecosystems do not fairly compensate the music creators whose music is contributing to gen-AI music.
IL will enable dynamic market-value calculations that smart contracts, opt-ins, royalty pools, and settlements cannot and have never fully captured.
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[Podcast] Host Harkos Interviews Dae Bogan on the ‘Music Makin Cents’ Podcast

I sat down with host Harkos of the “Music Makin Cents Podcast” to talk about different ways to make money from your music. Watch the episode here or below.
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[Podcast] Aggressive Ambition: Dae Bogan’s Journey to The MLC — Gig Gab 491
Dae Bogan from The MLC breaks down music royalties with Dave Hamilton on this week’s Gig Gab. From the ancient days of piano rolls to the tangled web of modern streaming, you’ll learn how mechanical royalties differ from performance rights and why most artists are leaving money on the table. The MLC—born from the Music Modernization Act of 2018—isn’t just another acronym; it’s the missing piece of the puzzle, and Dae’s been there since before the beginning, shaping the system from the inside out.
But this episode goes beyond the mechanics. Dae shares his raw, unfiltered story, from homelessness at 18 to building multiple startups and becoming a sought-after voice in music licensing. He didn’t just climb the ladder: he built it, all while staying true to his mission. You’ll hear how empathy, grit, and yes, aggressive ambition became his tools for success. Tune in, learn how not to make the mistake nearly every artist makes, and remember: Always Be Performing.
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[Podcast] SXSW 2025 – Scrubbing the System: Music Data Management Today

I enjoyed returning to SXSW earlier this month and the opportunity to join Jay Gilbert, Molly Neuman, and Rell Lafargue in discussing how companies are tackling and innovating on the challenge of music metadata.
Check out this podcast of our panel “Scrubbing the System: Music Data Management Today.”
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[Podcast] SXSW 2025 – Crafting a Transparent Future for Music Rightsholders

Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of moderating the panel “Crafting a Transparent Future for Music Rightsholders” at SXSW. Joining me on stage were Chantal Epp (ClicknClear), Diego Maldonado (ONErpm), and Josh Simons (Vinyl Group). These companies are among the over 500 entities around the world that access The Mechanical Licensing Collective’s data through one or more of our data programs.
Click here to listen to the SXSW panel podcast to hear what we had to say about the future of transparency in music rights and data management on this podcast recording of our session.
View the PDF of the slides that were presented during the panel discussion. You can follow along with how the slides were presented by starting the podcast at audio mark 23:55.
Bonus: Below is a recording of a related webinar that I hosted last year during which each of these companies demonstrated how they leverage The MLC’s data in their businesses. Watch “Exploring The Use of The MLC’s Data: A Showcase of Three Companies”.
In accordance with the Music Modernization Act of 2018, The MLC develops and maintains a variety of data programs that are accessible to a diversity of companies around the world. The MLC’s database boasts over 30 Million musical works, with associated ownership information and matched sound recordings, and is enriched by our members and partners. As mandated by the MMA, The MLC makes the data available in bulk machine-readable formats and via an API.
Join The MLC’s Head of Third-Party Partnerships, Dae Bogan, in this 60-minute webinar showcasing real-world examples of The MLC’s data programs in use by differentiated technology companies around the world. Each of the selected showcase companies — ClickNClear (UK), Jaxsta (Australia), and ONErpm (Colombia) — will explain and demonstrate how it leverages The MLC’s data programs in the solutions that it offers to the music industry or in its backend operations.
Speakers:
· Jaxsta Showcase (Bulk Data Access Subscription) by Ben Orme, Jaxsta Product Lead / Business Development
· ClickNClear Showcase (Public Search API) by Chantal Epp, Founder & CEO
· ONErpm Showcase (DURP) by Diego Maldonado, Global Head of Publishing & Rights Management
DISCLAIMER: This video was uploaded to the MLC’s YouTube channel on 06/06/2024. Some content may no longer be accurate or up-to-date. For the latest information, please visit THEMLC.COM or reach out to our support team with any questions.
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On the Impact of False Copyright Infringement Claims on Independent Artists and Other Digital Creators

Over the past 10 years, among other pursuits and adventures, I’ve advised independent artists and artist managers on copyright issues surrounding the exploitation of their music in the Internet Age. I’ve also advised entrepreneurs on the intellectual property compliance implications of their music app and digital media startups.
One interesting unintended consequence that has emerged out of the creation of copyright policing systems by Internet and digital music services is the abuse of these systems by bad actors whose only goal is to curb the success of a particular piece of content (music or video) or the creator of such content.
Services such as Youtube and Spotify have implemented takedown processes to comply with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 and limit their liability while maintaining a safe harbor from damages that may arise out of copyright infringement lawsuits. However, bad actors can use these same tools that are meant to help rightsholders protect their rights to instead attack creators in what appears to be economic warfare against artists: false infringement claims and errorneous takedowns.
Takedowns can derail creators during viral momentums, which can be detrimental; especially for independent artists. I’ve advised several clients who’ve been the victim of such an abuse of the system.
Today, Billboard published an article, written by reporter Elias Leight who investigated the use of false infringement claims as a tactic to curb the success of rivals. I was interviewed for the article and provided some of the contextual and technological backdrop for the investigation:
Article Excerpt:
Like other prominent platforms, Spotify responds to infringement claims seriously by removing allegedly infringing songs, and you can report a song without breaking a sweat. Platforms honor an infringement claim whether the intentions behind it are legitimate or not.
“Anywhere there’s content and there’s some system with a trust mechanism to flag violations, there’s an opportunity for abuse and mis-use,” says Dae Bogan, head of third-party partnerships at the Mechanical Licensing Collective. “Bad actors are gonna do what they’re gonna do.”
Article: https://www.billboard.com/pro/spotify-false-infringement-claims/
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[Video] Dae Bogan Talks Music Creators’ Rights On Aljazeera

I set down with Aljazeera news to talk music creators’ rights and the ownership of their intellectual property. Check out the piece via the link below. I first appear at 3:36.
Here’s Why Taylor Swift And Drake Don’t Own Their Music https://youtu.be/WHmy9lSML3c
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[Video] Symphonic Distribution x The MLC Live Q&A with Dae Bogan

Did you know that there is over 424 million in unmatched royalties that The MLC is looking to pay out? Join Randall Foster & Dae Bogan as they dive deep into the world of publishing.
Watch: https://youtu.be/EhxljeejSqI
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[Video] Artist Managers Connect presents AMA About The Mechanical Licensing Collective with Dae Bogan

Is the blanket license royalty rate determined after the majors have negotiated their license with the DSPs?
Does registration with the MLC supersede registrations with HFA and MRI?
If a song was previously licensed under the voluntary license, does it now have a secondary revenue to coming from the blanket license, or do you have to choose one path over the other?
Will the MLC establish reciprocal mechanical collections with foreign mechanical CMOs such as MCPS and AMCOS?
Watch me answer these questions and many more from artist managers in my “Ask Me Anything About The Mechanical Licensing Collective”
Watch: https://youtu.be/Kz43LyYXMUI
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[Video] Dae Bogan In Conversation With Damien Ritter of Music Entrepreneurship Club on BeatStars Live

Watch the recording of the conversation.
Damien Ritter interviews Dae Bogan on The Mechanical Licensing Collective for Music Entrepreneurship Club on BeatStars Live.
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