Music Copyright (Thailand) Ltd.

Music Copyright (Thailand) Ltd. (MCT) is Thailand's collective management organization for musical works, administering performing and reproduction rights on behalf of its members and overseas affiliated societies. Based in Bangkok, it licenses businesses that play music publicly across Thailand and distributes collected royalties to songwriters, composers, and publishers. It is best suited for Thai creators and international rightsholders whose music is performed or reproduced within Thai territory.

How MCT Works

MCT operates under a deed of assignment where members transfer their performing and reproduction rights to the society. The organization then licenses music users across several categories: radio and television broadcasting, public performance in retail shops, hotels, restaurants, and karaoke venues, and reproduction rights for physical and digital media.

MCT collects royalties from these licensees and distributes them to rightsholders based on usage data gathered through broadcast logs, cue sheets, and monitoring systems. The distribution rules (last revised September 2024) govern how collected revenue is allocated among members and foreign societies.

The Unlogged Performance Allocation (UPA) compensates for performances missed due to sampling limitations. UPA is split 70% to Thai music members and 30% to international music members of overseas affiliated societies, as determined by the Board of Directors.

MCT does not administer Grand Right performances (full theatrical works, ballet, operas) unless specifically requested by the interested parties. This is standard practice for most PROs, as Grand Rights are typically negotiated directly between producers and rightsholders.

MCT is a CISAC member (joined January 1, 1997, CISAC Code 126) and maintains reciprocal representation agreements with PROs worldwide. This means foreign creators whose music is played in Thailand can receive royalties through their home society's agreement with MCT, and Thai members can collect royalties when their works are performed abroad.

Real-World Example

A Thai songwriter registers 20 compositions with MCT. A Bangkok hotel holds an MCT blanket license covering background music in its lobby and restaurant. A radio station in Chiang Mai plays 5 of the songwriter's tracks in a given quarter, and a karaoke venue in Phuket includes 3 of their songs in its catalog.

MCT collects license fees from all three businesses. The radio station's usage is logged through broadcast monitoring. The hotel and karaoke venue fees are allocated based on reported usage. The songwriter receives a distribution proportional to the number of logged performances, minus MCT's administrative overhead.

If the same songwriter's music is also played on radio in Japan, MCT's reciprocal agreement with JASRAC means JASRAC collects those royalties and remits them to MCT, which then distributes them to the songwriter in a subsequent distribution cycle.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you are a Thai songwriter, composer, or publisher, MCT is the primary organization in Thailand that collects performance and reproduction royalties on your behalf. Without MCT membership, you earn zero royalties from public performances of your music in Thailand, regardless of how often it gets played.

Register your works with MCT before they are publicly released. Provide accurate metadata including ISRC codes, ISWC numbers, and correct split sheets. MCT's distribution system relies on usage data matching, so incomplete or incorrect registration data means your royalties may go unclaimed or be allocated to the UPA pool instead of your account.

If you are an international artist whose music is performed in Thailand, you do not need to join MCT directly. Your home PRO (such as ASCAP, BMI, PRS for Music, or JASRAC) should have a reciprocal agreement with MCT. Ensure your works are properly registered with your home society so they can claim royalties from MCT on your behalf.

MCT's distribution cycles and timelines may differ from Western PROs. Contact the society directly or check their website for current distribution schedules and membership requirements.

Potential Drawbacks

MCT's public performance monitoring relies on sampling, not census-based tracking. This means some performances will not be captured, and royalties for those are distributed through the UPA pool rather than matched to specific works. Songwriters with niche or less mainstream catalog may receive less accurate compensation than those with high-rotation radio hits.

The society's online presence and digital tools are less developed than those of major Western PROs like ASCAP or BMI. Members may need to rely more on direct communication with MCT staff rather than self-service portals.

MCT does not handle Grand Rights (theatrical performances, ballet, opera). If your work is used in a staged theatrical production, you must negotiate those licenses directly with the producer.

Related Resources

• Performing Rights Organizations (PRO) - What a PRO is and how it functions
• Performance Royalties - How performance royalties are generated and collected
• Collective Management Organization (CMO) - How CMOs operate globally
• Blanket License - The licensing model used by MCT and other PROs
• MCT Official Website - Visit MCT for membership and licensing information
• Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to estimate your digital performance earnings